over  JOYS 


"THREE  CHEERS  FOR  THE   ROVER  BOYS!"    CALLED  OUT  ONE 

OF  THE  SENIORS. 
The  Rover  Boys  in  the  Atr.  Frontispiece—  ( Page  123. ) 


THE   ROVER   BOYS 
IN  THE  AIR 

OR 

FROM  COLLEGE  CAMPUS 
TO   THE   CLOUDS 

BY 
ARTHUR  M.  WINFIELD 

(Edward  Stratemeyer) 

AUTHOR  OF  THE  ROVER  BOYS  AT  SCHOOL,  THB 

ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  OCEAN,  THE  PUTNAM 

HALL  SERIES,  ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED 


NEW    YORK 

GROSSET    &    DUNLAP 
PUBLISHERS 

Made  in  the  United  State*  of  America 


BOOKS  BY  ARTHUR  M.  WINFIELD 

(Edward  Stratemeyer). 


THE  FIRST  ROVER  BOYS  SERIES 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  AT  SCHOOL 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  OCEAN 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  JUNGLE 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  OUT  WEST 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  GREAT  LAKES 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  MOUNTAINS 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  CAMP 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  LAND  AND  SEA 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  RIVER 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  PLAINS 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  SOUTHERN  WATERS 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  FARM 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  TREASURE  ISLE 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  AT  COLLEGE 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  DOWN  EAST 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  ALASKA 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  BUSINESS 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  A  TOUR 


THE  SECOND  ROVER  BOYS  SERIES 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  AT  COLBY  HALL 


THE  PUTNAM  HALL  SERIES 

THE  PUTNAM  HALL  CADETS 
THE  PUTNAM  HALL  RIVALS 
THE  PUTNAM  HALL  CHAMPIONS 
THE  PUTNAM  HALL  REBELLION 
THE  PUTNAM  HALL  ENCAMPMENT 
THE  PUTNAM  HALL  MYSTERY 


I2mo.    Goth.    Illustrated. 


GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,  Publishers,  New  York 


COPYRIGHT.  1912,  BY 

EDWARD  STRATEMEYER 


The  Rover  Boys  in  the  Air 


Stack 
Annex 


t 


INTRODUCTION 

MY  DEAR  BOYS:  This  is  a  complete  story  in 
itself,  but  forms  the  sixteenth  volume  issued  un- 
der the  general  title  of  "Rover  Boys  Series  for 
Young  Americans." 

This  line  was  started  thirteen  years  ago  by  the 
publication  of  the  first  three  volumes,  "The  Rover 
Boys  at  School,"  "On  the  Ocean,"  and  "In  the 
Jungle."  I  hoped  that  the  young  people  would 
like  the  stories,  but  I  was  hardly  prepared  for  the 
very  warm  welcome  the  volumes  received.  The 
three  books  were  followed  by  a  fourth,  "The 
Rover  Boys  Out  West,"  and  then,  yearly,  by 
"On  the  Great  Lakes,"  "In  Camp,"  "On  Land 
and  Sea,"  "On  the  River,"  "On  the  Plains,"  "In 
Southern  Waters,"  "On  the  Farm,"  "On  Treasure 
Isle,"  "At  College,"  and  then  by  "Down  East," 
where  we  last  left  our  heroes  and  their  friends. 

Of  course,  as  is  but  natural,  Dick,  Tom  and 
Sam  are  older  than  when  we  first  met  them.  In- 
deed, Dick  is  thinking  of  getting  married  and  set- 
tling down,  and  with  such  a  nice  girl  as  Dora 


2076546 


INTRODUCTION 

Stanhope,  who  could  blame  him  ?  All  of  the  boys 
are  at  college,  finishing  their  education,  and  all  are 
as  wideawake  as  ever,  and  Tom  is  just  as  full  of 
merriment.  They  have  some  strenuous  times, 
and  take  a  trip  through  the  air  that  is  a  good  deal 
out  of  the  ordinary.  They  meet  some  of  their 
old  enemies,  and  prove  that  they  are  heroes  in 
the  best  meaning  of  that  much-abused  term. 

The  publishers  report  a  sale  of  this  series  of 
books  of  over  a  million  copies!  This  is  truly 
amazing  to  me,  and  again,  as  in  the  past,  I  thank 
my  many  young  friends  for  their  cordial  recep- 
tion of  what  I  have  written  for  them.  I  trust  the 
present  story  will  interest  them  and  prove  of 
benefit. 

Affectionately  and  sincerely  yours, 

EDWARD  STRATEMEYER. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  THE  BOYS  AND  THE  BIPLANE I 

II.  SOMETHING  ABOUT  THE  ROVER  BOYS II 

III.  SAM  BRINGS  NEWS 21 

IV.  AT  THE  TELEPHONE 31 

V.  LOOKING  FOR  THE  LOST  FLYING  MACHINE..  42 

VI.  Two  OLD  ENEMIES 52 

VII.  THE  RUNAWAY  HORSES 62 

VIII.  TRIAL  FLIGHTS 72 

IX.  THE  NEW  ARRIVAL 82 

X.  FUN  WITH  OLD  RICKS 93 

XI.  OFF  FOR  BRILL  COLLEGE 104 

XII.  A  GRAND  ARRIVAL 114 

XIII.  SOME  INTERESTING  NEWS 124 

XIV.  THE  BIRTHDAY  FEAST 135 

XV.  A   PERILOUS    FLIGHT 145 

XVI.  DICK  AND  DORA 155 

XVII.  CAUGHT  IN  A   HAILSTORM 165 

XVIII.  TOM  AND  His  FUN 176 

XIX.  STARTLING  NEWS  FROM  HOME 186 

XX.  GRACE'S    REVELATION 196 

XXI.  FOLLOWING  DORA  AND  NELLIE 206 

XXIL  OVER  THE  BIG  WOODS 214 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PACK 

XXIII.  AT  CLOSE   QUARTERS 222 

XXIV.  AT  THE  SWAMP 230 

XXV.  THE  TRAIL  OF  THE  TOURING  CAR 238 

XXVI.  THE  MOONLIT  TRAIL 246 

XXVII.  THE  CHAUFFEUR  OF  THE  TOURING  CAR....  254 

XXVIII.  AT  THE  OLD  MANSION 262 

XXIX,  THE  ARM  OF  THE  LAW 270 

XXX.  THE  ROUND-UP — CONCLUSION 278 


THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 


CHAPTER  I 

THE   BOYS   AND  THE   BIPLANE 

"Fo*  DE  land  sakes,  Massa  Dick,  wot  am  dat 
contraption  yo'  boys  dun  put  togedder  back  ob 
de  bahn  yesterday?" 

"Why,  Aleck,  don't  you  know  what  that  is?" 
returned  Dick  Rover,  with  a  smile  at  the  colored 
man.  "That's  a  biplane." 

"A  biplane,  eh?"  repeated  Alexander  Pop,  the 
colored  helper  around  the  Rover  homestead.  He 
scratched  his  woolly  head  thoughtfully.  "Yo' 
don't  mean  to  say  it  am  lak  a  plane  a  carpenter 
man  uses,  does  yo',  Massa  Dick?  'Pears  lak  to 
me  it  was  moah  lak  some  ship  sails  layin'  down,— • 
somethin'  lak  dem  ships  we  see  over  in  Africy, 
when  we  went  into  dem  jungles  to  find  yo' 
f  adder." 

"No,  it  has  nothing  to  do  with  a  carpenter's 
1 


2  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

plane,  Aleck,"  answered  Dick,  with  a  laugh.  "A 
biplane  is  a  certain  kind  of  a  flying  machine." 

"Wat's  dat?  A  flyin'  machine?  Shorely, 
Massa  Dick,  yo'  ain't  gwine  to  try  to  fly?"  ex- 
claimed Aleck,  in  horror. 

"That  is  just  what  I  am  going  to  do,  Aleck, 
after  I  have  had  a  few  lessons.  I  hope  to  fly 
right  over  the  house,  just  like  a  bird." 

"No!  no!  Don't  you  try  dat,  Massa  Dick! 
You'll  break  yo'  neck  suah!  Don't  yo'  try  it! 
I — I  can't  allow  it  nohow — an'  yo'  aunt  won't 
allow  it  neither !"  And  the  colored  man  shook  his 
head  most  emphatically. 

"Now,  don't  get  excited,  Aleck,"  said  Dick, 
calmly.  "I  won't  go  up  until  I  am  sure  of  what 
I  am  doing.  Why,  don't  you  know  that  flying  in 
the  air  is  getting  to  be  a  common  thing  these 
days?  Tom  and  Sam  and  I  bought  that  biplane 
in  New  York  last  week,  and  a  man  who  knows 
all  about  flying  is  coming  out  to  the  farm  to  teach 
us  how  to  run  it.  After  we  know  how  to  sail 
through  the  air  we'll  take  you  up  with  us." 

"Me!"  ejaculated  the  colored  man,  and  rolled 
his  eyes  wildly.  "Not  in  a  thousand  years,  Massa 
rDick,  an'  not  fo'  all  dat  treasure  yo'  dun  brung 
home  from  Treasure  Isle!  No,  sah,  de  ground 
am  good  enough  f  o'  Aleck  Pop !"  And  he  backed 


THE  BOYS  AND  THE  BIPLANE  3 

away,  as  if  afraid  Dick  Rover  might  carry  him 
off  then  and  there. 

"Hello,  Aleck!"  cried  a  merry  voice  at  this 
moment,  and  Tom  Rover  came  into  view.  "Want 
to  take  a  sail  through  the  clouds  for  a  change?" 
•  "Massa  Tom,  am  yo'  really  thinking  ob  goin'  up 
in  dat  contraption?"  demanded  the  colored  man, 
earnestly. 

"Sure  thing,  Aleck.  And  you'll  want  to  go, 
too,  before  long.  Think  of  flying  along  like  a 
bird!"  And  Tom  Rover  spread  out  his  arms  and 
moved  them  slowly  up  and  down.  "Oh,  it's 
grand!" 

"Yo'  won't  be  no  bird  when  yo'  come  down 
ker-flop!"  murmured  Aleck,  soberly.  "Yo'  will 
be  all  busted  up,  dat's  wot  yo'll  be!" 

"We  won't  fall,  don't  you  worry,"  continued 
Tom.  "This  biplane  is  a  first-class  machine,  war- 
ranted in  all  kinds  of  weather." 

"If  it  am  a  flyin'  machine  wot  fo'  you  call  it 
a  biplane?"  asked  the  colored  man  curiously. 

"Bi  stands  for  two,"  explained  Dick.  "A  bi- 
cycle means  two  cycles,  or  two  wheels.  A  bi- 
plane means  two  planes,  or  two  surfaces  of  can- 
vas. This  biplane  of  ours,  as  you  can  see,  has 
two  surfaces,  or  decks,  an  upper  and  a  lower.  A 
monoplane  has  only  one  plane,  and  a  triplane  has 
three.  Now  you  understand,  don't  you,  Aleck?" 


4  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

r\  dun  reckon  I  do,  Massa  Dick.  But  look  yeah, 
boys,  yo'  take  my  advice  an'  don't  yo'  try  to  sail 
frough  de  air  in  dat  bicycleplane,  or  wot  yo'  call 
it.  'Tain't  safe  nohow!  Yo'  stick  to  de  bosses, 
an'  dat  autermobile,  an'  de  boat  on  de  ribber.  A 
boy  wasn't  meant  to  be  a  bird  nohow!" 

"How  about  being  an  angel,  Aleck?"  asked 
Tom,  slyly. 

"Huh!  An  angel,  eh?  Well,  if  yo'  go  up  in 
dat  bicycleplane  maybe  yo'  will  be  an  angel  after 
yo'  fall  out,  even  if  yo'  ain't  one  when  yo'  starts." 
And  with  this  remark  Aleck  Pop  hurried  away  to 
his  work  in  the  house. 

"That's  one  on  you,  Tom,"  cried  Dick,  with  a 
broad  smile.  "Poor  Aleck!  he  evidently  has  no 
use  for  flying  machines. " 

"Well,  Dick,  now  the  machine  is  together,  it 
does  look  rather  scary,"  answered  Tom  Rover, 
slowly.  "I  want  to  see  that  aviator  try  it  out 
pretty  well  before  I  risk  my  neck  going  up." 

"Oh,  so  do  I.  And  we'll  have  to  have  a  good 
many  lessons  in  running  the  engine,  and  in  steer- 
ing, and  all  that.  I  begin  to  think  running  a  flying 
machine  is  a  good  deal  harder  than  running  ar 
auto,  or  a  motor  boat." 

"Yes,  I  guess  it  is.  Come  on  down  and  let  ufc 
see  how  the  engine  works.  We  can  do  that  easily 


THE  BOYS  AND  THE  BIPLANE  5 

enough,  for  it's  a  good  deal  like  the  engine  of  an 
auto,  or  a  motor  boat,"  went  on  Tom. 

"Where  is  Sam?" 

"He  took  the  auto  and  went  down  to  the  Cor- 
ners on  an  errand  for  Aunt  Martha.  He  said 
he'd  be  back  as  soon  as  possible.  He's  as  crazy 
to  get  at  the  biplane  as  either  of  us." 

The  two  boys  walked  to  where  the  biplane  had 
been  put  together,  in  a  large  open  wagon  shed 
attached  to  the  rear  of  the  big  barn.  The  biplane 
has  a  stretch  from  side  to  side  of  over  thirty  feet, 
and  the  shed  had  been  cleaned  out  from  end  to 
end  to  make  room  for  it.  There  was  a  rudder 
in  front  and  another  behind,  and  in  the  centre  was 
a  broad  cane  seat,  with  a  steering  wheel,  and 
several  levers  for  controling  the  craft.  Back  of 
the  seat  was  the  engine,  lightly  built  but  powerful, 
and  above  was  a  good-sized  tank  of  gasoline. 
The  framework  of  the  biplane  was  of  bamboo, 
held  together  by  stays  of  piano  wire,  and  the 
planes  themselves  were  of  canvas,  especially  pre- 
pared so  as  to  be  almost  if  not  quite  air  proof. 
All  told,  the  machine  was  a  fine  one,  thoroughly 
up-to-Jate,  and  had  cost  considerable  money. 

"We'll  have  to  get  a  name  for  this  machine," 
remarked  Tom.  "Have  you  any  in  mind?" 

"Well,  I — er — thought  we  might  call  her  the 


THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

— "  And  then  his  big  brother  stopped 
short  and  grew  slightly  red  in  the  face. 

"I'll  bet  an  apple  you  were  going  to  say  Dora," 
cried  Tom  quickly. 

"Humph,"  murmured  Dick.  "Maybe  you  were 
going  to  suggest  Nellie." 

"No,  I  wasn't,"  returned  Tom,  and  now  he  got 
a  little  red  also.  "If  I  did  that,  Sam  might  come 
along  and  want  to  name  it  the  Grace.  We  had 
better  give  the  girls'  names  a  rest.  Let's  call  her 
the  Dartaway,  that  is,  if  she  really  does  dart 
away  when  she  flies." 

"All  right,  Tom;  that's  a  first-class  name,"  re- 
sponded Dick.  "And  Dart  away  she  shall  be- 
come, if  Sam  is  willing.  Now  then,  we'll  fill  that 
gasoline  tank  and  let  the  engine  warm  up  a  bit. 
Probably  it  will  need  some  adjusting." 

"Can  we  use  the  same  gasoline  as  we  use  in  the 
auto?" 

"Yes,  on  ordinary  occasions.  In  a  race  you  can 
use  a  higher  grade,  so  that  aviator  said.  But  then 
you'll  have  to  readjust  the  magneto  and  car- 
buretor. " 

"Gracious,  Dick!  You're  not  thinking  of  an 
air  race  already,  are  you!" 

"Oh,  no !  But  we  might  get  in  a  race  some  day, 
1 — and  such  things  are  good  to  know,"  answered 
Dick,  as  he  walked  off  to  the  garage,  where  there 


THE  BOYS  AND  THE  BIPLANE  7 

was  a  barrel  of  gasoline  sunk  in  the  ground,  with 
a  pipe  connection.  He  got  out  a  five-gallon  can 
and  filled  it,  and  then  poured  the  gasoline  in  the 
tank  of  the  biplane. 

"She'll  hold  more  than  that,"  said  Tom,  watch- 
ing him.  "Here,  give  me  the  can  and  I'll  fill  the 
tank  while  we  are  at  it.  We'll  want  plenty  of 
gas  when  that  aviator  gets  here." 

In  a  few  minutes  more  the  gasoline  tank  was 
full,  and  then  the  two  lads  busied  themselves  put- 
ting the  engine  in  running  order,  and  in  filling 
up  the  lubricating  oil  box.  They  also  oiled  up 
the  working  parts,  and  oiled  the  propeller  bear- 
ings arid  the  steering  gear. 

"Now,  I  guess  she  is  all  ready  to  run,"  re- 
marked Dick,  at  length.  "My,  but  isn't  she  a 
beauty,  Tom!  Just  think  of  sailing  around  in 
her!" 

"I'd  like  to  go  up  right  now!"  answered  the 
brother.  If  only  I  knew  more  about  airships, 
hang  me  if  I  wouldn't  try  it!" 

"Don't  you  dream  of  it,  yet!"  answered  Dick. 
"We've  got  to  learn  the  art  of  it,  just  like  a  baby 
has  got  to  learn  to  walk.  If  you  went  up  now 
you'd  come  down  with  a  smash  sure." 

"Maybe  I  would,"  mused  Tom.  "Well,  let  us 
try  the  engine  anyhow.  And  maybe  we  can  try 


3  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

the  propellers,"  he  added,  with  a  longing  glance 
at  the  smooth,  wooden  blades. 

"One  thing  at  a  time,"  answered  Dick,  with  a 
laugh.  "We'll  try  the  engine,  but  we'll  have  to 
tie  the  biplane  fast,  or  else  it  may  run  into  some- 
thing and  get  smashed." 

"Let  us  run  her  out  into  the  field  first.  It's  too 
gloomy  in  the  shed.  I'll  hammer  in  some  stakes 
and  tie  her." 

The  biplane  rested  on  three  small  rubber-tired 
wheels,  placed  in  the  form  of  a  triangle.  Thus 
it  was  an  easy  matter  to  roll  the  big  machine  from 
the  shed  to  the  level  field  beyond.  Then  Tom 
ran  back  and  procured  some  stakes,  several  ropes, 
and  a  hammer,  and  soon  he  had  the  biplane  staked 
fast  to  the  ground,  after  the  manner  of  a  small 
circus  tent. 

"Now  she  can't  break  loose,  even  if  you  do 
start  the  engine  and  the  propellers,"  said  he,  as  he 
surveyed  his  work.  "Go  ahead,  Dick,  and  turn 
on  the  juice!"  he  cried  impatiently. 

Dick  Rover  was  just  as  anxious  to  see  the 
engine  work,  and  after  another  critical  inspection 
he  turned  on  the  battery  and  then  walked  to  one 
of  the  propellers. 

"We'll  have  to  start  the  engine  by  turning 
these,"  he  said. 
v    "All  right!"  cried  Tom,  catching  hold  of  the 


THE  BOYS  AND  THE  BIPLANE  g 

other  wooden  blades.  "Now  then,  all  ready? 
Heave  ahoy,  my  hearty!"  he  added,  in  sailor 
fashion. 

Four  times  were  the  wooden  blades  "turned 
over"  and  still  the  engine  refused  to  respond.  It 
was  hard  work,  and  both  of  the  lads  perspired 
freely,  for  it  was  a  hot  day  in  early  September. 

"Got  that  spark  connected  all  right?"  panted 
Tom,  as  he  stopped  to  catch  his  breath. 

"Yes,"  was  the  reply,  after  Dick  had  made  an 
inspection.  "The  engine  is  cold,  that's  all." 

"Humph,  well  I'm  not!  But  come  on,  let  us 
give  her  another  twist." 

The  brothers  took  hold  again,  and,  at  a  word 
from  Dick,  each  gave  the  wooden  paddles  of  the 
propellers  a  vigorous  turn.  There  came  a  sudden 
hiss,  followed  by  a  crack  and  a  bang,  and  then 
off  the  engine  started  with  the  loudness  of  a. 
gattling  gun. 

"Hurrah!  she's  started!"  yelled  Tom,  trium- 
phantly. "Say,  but  she  makes  some  noise,  doesn't 
she?"  he  added. 

"I  should  say  yes.  That's  because  airship  en~ 
:gines  don't  have  mufflers,  like  autos,"  yelled  back 
Dick,  to  make  himself  heard  above  the  explosions. 

"And  see  those  propellers  go  around!"  went  on 
Tom,  in  deep  admiration.  "All  you  can  see  is  a 


10  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

whirr!  We  sure  have  a  dandy  engine  in  this 
craft,  Dick!" 

"Looks  so,  doesn't  it?"  returned  Dick,  also  in 
admiration.  "I  reckon  the  Dartazvay  will  give  a 
good  account  of  herself,  when  she  is  properly 
handled.  Now,  I  had  better  stop  the  propellers, 
I  guess,"  he  added,  moving  toward  the  front  of 
the  biplane  to  do  so. 

"Yes!  yes!  stop  em!"  yelled  Tom,  suddenly. 
"Hurry  up,  Dick!  See  how  she  is  straining  to 
break  the  ropes!  Say,  she  wants  to  go  up!" 

Dick  was  startled  and  with  good  reason.  Even 
while  his  brother  was  speaking  there  came  a  sud- 
den snap,  and  one  of  the  ropes  flew  apart.  Then 
up  out  of  the  ground  came  the  stake  holding 
another  rope.  The  big  biplane,  thus  released  on 
one  side,  slewed  around,  and  Tom  was  knocked 
flat.  Then  came  another  snap  and  two  more 
ropes  flew  apart. 

"She's  going!  stop  her!"  screamed  Tom,  from 
where  he  lay,  and  the  next  moment  he  saw  Dick 
struck  full  in  the  face  by  the  machine.  Down 
went  the  youth  backwards,  and  as  he  fell,  with  a 
rush  and  a  roar,  the  biplane  sped  over  the  level 
ground  for  a  distance  of  two  hundred  feet  and 
then  went  sailing  into  the  air,  headed  almost 
point  blank  for  the  Rover  homestead,  less  than 
fifty  rods  away! 


CHAPTER  II 

SOMETHING  ABOUT   THE  ROVER  BOYS 

"On,  DICK,  are  you  hurt?" 

The  cry  came  from  Tom,  as  he  turned  over  on 
the  ground  and  struggled  to  his  feet.  He  had 
seen  his  brother  hurled  backwards,  and  he  saw 
that  Dick  made  no  move  to  arise.  He  had  been 
struck  in  the  head,  and  blood  was  flowing  from  a 
wound  over  his  left  ear. 

"Oh,  maybe  he's  killed !"  gasped  poor  Tom,  and 
then,  for  the  moment  he  forgot  all  about  the  fly- 
ing machine,  that  was  rushing  so  madly  through 
the  air  towards  the  Royer  homstead.  He  hurried 
to  his  brother's  side,  at  the  same  time  calling  for 
others  to  come  to  his  assistance. 

To  my  old  readers  the  lads  already  mentioned 
will  need  no  introduction.  For  the  benefit  of 
others  let  me  state  that  the  Rover  boys  were  three 
in  number,  Dick  being  the  oldest,  fun-loving  Tom 
coming  next,  and  sturdy  Sam  being  the  youngest 
They  were  the  sons  of  Anderson  Rover,  a  wid- 
ower, and  when  at  home,  as  at  present,  lived  with 

11 


12  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

tfieir  father  and  their  Uncle  Randolph  and  Aunt 
Martha  at  a  pleasant  place  known  as  Valley 
Brook  farm,  in  New  York  state. 

While  their  father  was  in  Africa  on  a  mission 
jof  importance,  the  three  boys  had  been  sent  by 
their  uncle  to  boarding  school,  as  related  in  the 
first  volume  of  this  series,  entitled,  "The  Rover 
Boys  at  School."  The  place  was  Putnam  Hall 
Military  Academy,  and  there  the  lads  had  made 
many  friends  and  also  a  few  enemies. 

From  school  the  boys  had  made  a  short  trip 
on  the  ocean,  and  then  another  trip  into  the  jungle 
after  their  father.  Then  had  followed  a  trip 
out  West,  and  another  on  the  Great  Laks.  Later 
the  youths  had  camped  out  in  the  mountains  dur- 
ing the  winter,  shooting  quite  some  game.  Then 
they  had  returned  to  school,  to  go  into  camp  dur- 
ing the  summer  with  the  other  cadets. 

The  boys  by  this  time  thought  their  adventures 
at  an  end,  but  more  were  soon  to  follow.  There 
came  a  long  trip  on  land  and  sea,  and  then  a  voy- 
age down  the  Ohio  River,  and  soon  after  this  the 
Rovers  found  themselves  on  the  plains,  where 
|they  had  some  adventures  far  out  of  the  ordi- 
nary. From  the  plains  they  went  further  south, 
and  in  southern  waters — the  same  being  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico — they  solved  the  mystery  of  the  de- 
serted steam  yacht. 


SOMETHING  ABOUT  THE  ROVER  BOYS   13 

"Now  back  to  the  farm  for  me!"  Sam  had  said 
at  this  time,  and  all  were  glad  to  go  back,  and 
also  to  return  to  Putnam  Hall,  from  which  seat 
of  learning  they  presently  graduated  with  honors. 
Then  Mr.  Anderson  Rover  got  word  of  a  valu- 
able treasure,  and  he  and  the  boys,  with  a  number 
of  their  friends,  went  to  Treasure  Isle  in  search 
of  it.  They  were  followed  by  some  of  their 
enemies  and  the  latter  did  all  in  their  power  to 
cause  trouble. 

Although  the  boys  had  finished  at  Putnam 
Hall,  their  days  of  learning  were  not  yet  over, 
and  soon  they  set  off  for  Brill  College,  a  high- 
grade  seat  of  learning  located  in  one  of  our  mid- 
dle-western states.  They  had  with  them  an  old 
school  chum  named  John  Powell,  usually  called 
"Songbird,"  because  of  his  habit  of  making  up 
and  reciting  so-called  poetry,  and  were  presently 
joined  by  another  old  school  companion  named 
William  Philander  Tubbs,  a  dudish  chap  who 
thought  more  of  his  dress  and  the  society  of 
ladies  than  he  did  of  his  studies.  Tom  loved  to 
play  jokes  on  Tubbs,  who  was  generally  too 
dense  to  see  where  the  fun  came  in. 

From  the  college  the  boys  had  taken  another 
trip,  as  related  in  the  fifteenth  volume  of  this 
series,  caSed  "The  Rover  Boys  Down  East." 
There  was  a  mystery  about  that  trip,  of  which  the 


14  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

outside  world  knew  little,  but  as  that  trip  has 
something  to  do  with  the  events  which  are  to  fol- 
low in  this  story,  I  will  here  give  such  details  as 
seem  necessary. 

When  the  Rover  Boys  went  to  Putnam  Hall 
they  met  three  girls,  Dora  Stanhope  and  her  two 
cousins,  Nellie  and  Grace  Laning.  Dora's  mother 
was  a  widow,  living  not  far  from  the  school,  and 
it  was  not  long  before  a  warm  friendship  sprang 
up  between  Dick  and  Dora, — a  friendship  that 
grew  more  and  more  intimate  as  the  days  went 
by.  Dick  thought  the  world  of  Dora,  and  the  two 
were  now  practically  engaged  to  be  married.  As 
for  Tom  and  Sam,  they  had  taken  to  the  two 
Laning  girls  from  the  start,  and  though  Tom 
was  too  full  of  fun  to  pay  much  attention  to 
girls,  yet  whenever  Nellie  was  mentioned  he 
would  grow  red  in  the  face;  and  it  was  noticed 
that  whenever  Grace  was  present  Sam  was  usu- 
ally on  had  to  keep  her  company. 

The  treasure  unearthed  on  Treasure  Isle  had  be* 
longed  to  the  Stanhope  estate,  the  bulk  of  it  going 
to  Mrs.  Stanhope  and  Dora  and  the  remainder  to 
the  Lanings,  because  Mrs.  Laning  was  Mrs.  Stan- 
hope's sister.  But  the  treasure  had  been  claimed 
by  a  certain  rascal  named  Sid  Merrick  and  his 
nephew,  Tad  Sobber,  and 'when  Merrick  lost  his 
life  during  a  hurricane  at  sea,  Sobber  continued 


SOMETHING  ABOUT  THE  ROVER  BOYS   15 

to  do  all  he  could  to  get  the  money  and  jewels 
into  his  possession. 

"It's  mine!"  he  told  Dick  Rover  one  day.  "It's 
mine,  all  mine,  and  some  day  I'm  going  to  get  it!" 

"You  keep  on,  Tad  Sobber,  and  some  day 
you'll  land  in  prison,"  had  been  Dick's  answer. 
"We  found  that  treasure,  and  the  courts  have 
decided  that  it  belongs  to  the  Stanhope  estate, 
and  you  had  better  keep  your  hands  off." 

But  Tad  Sobber  was  not  satisfied,  and  soon  he 
made  a  move  that  caused  the  worst  kind  of 
trouble.  There  was  a  learned  but  unscrupulous 
man  named  Josiah  Crabtree  who  had  once  been  a 
teacher  at  Putnam  Hall,  but  who  had  been  dis- 
charged and  who  had,  later  on,  been  sent  to 
prison  for  his  misdeeds.  This  Josiah  Crabtree 
had  once  sought  to  marry  Mrs.  Stanhope,  think- 
ing thereby  to  get  control  of  her  money  and  the 
money  she  held  in  trust  for  Dora.  The  lady  was 
weak  and  sickly,  and  the  teacher  had  tried  to 
hypnotize  her  into  getting  married,  and  had 
nearly  succeeded,  but  the  plot  was  nipped  in  the 
bud  by  the  Rover  boys.  j 

Tad  Sobber  met  Josiah  Crabtree  and  the  pair 
hatched  out  another  plot,  this  time  to  abduct  Mrs. 
Stanhope,  getting  the  lady  at  the  time  to  bring  a 
good  share  of  the  treasure  with  her  under  the 
impression  that  it  was  to  be  invested  by  her 


16  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

friends.  The  lady  was  carried  off  to  an  island 
in  Casco  Bay,  off  the  coast  of  Maine,  and  thither 
the  Rover  boys  and  some  others  followed  them. 
.There  was  a  good  deal  of  excitement ;  but  in  the 
end  the  lady  was  rescued  and  the  treasure  brought 
back.  An  effort  was  made  to  capture  Tad  Sob- 
ber  and  Josiah  Crabtree,  but  the  two  evildoers 
managed  to  get  away. 

The  home-coming  of  the  boys  with  Mrs.  Stan- 
hope had  been  a  time  of  great  rejoicing.  Dora 
had  embraced  Dick  over  and  over  again  for  what 
he  had  done  for  her  mother,  and  Nellie  and  Grace 
had  not  been  backward  in  complimenting  Tom 
and  Sam  on  their  good  work.  There  had  been  a 
general  jubilee  which  had  lasted  several  days. 

"Splendid  work,  boys,  splendid  work!"  Ander- 
son Rover  had  said.  "I  am  proud  of  you!" 

"Better  work  than  the  authorities  could  do," 
had  come  from  Uncle  Randolph. 

"Now  that  treasure  had  better  be  placed  where 
no  outsider  can  get  his  hands  on  it,"  Mr.  Rover 
had  added.  And  soon  after  that  it  was  put  in 
the  strong  box  of  a  safe  deposit  company,  there 
to  remain  until  it  could  be  properly  invested. 

At  Brill  College  the  Rover  boys  had  fallen  in 
with  a  number  of  fine  fellows,  including  Stanley 
Browne  and  a  German-American  student  named 
Max  Spangler.  They  had  also  encountered  some 


SOMETHING  ABOUT  THE  ROVER  BOYS   17 

others,  among  whom  were  Dudd  Flockley,  Jerry 
Koswell  and  Bart  Larkspur.  Led  by  Koswell, 
who  was  a  thoroughly  bad  egg,  the  three  last- 
named  students  had  tried  to  get  the  Rover  boys 
into  trouble,  and  had  succeeded.  But  they  over- 
reached themselves  and  were  exposed,  and  in 
sheer  fright  Koswell  and  Larkspur  ran  away  and 
refused  to  return.  Dudd  Flockley  was  repentant 
and  was  given  another  chance. 

While  on  the  hunt  for  Mrs.  Stanhope,  the 
Rovers  had  fallen  in  with  Koswell  and  Larkspur. 
But  instead  of  getting  aid  from  the  pair,  the  latter 
did  what  they  could  to  help  old  Crabtree  and 
Sobber.  This  brought  on  a  fight,  and  Koswell 
and  Larkspur  received  a  thrashing  they  would 
long  remember.  The  former  college  students 
might  have  been  arrested,  but,  like  Crabtree  and 
Sobber,  they  kept  out  of  sight. 

"They  are  sure  a  bunch  of  bad  ones,"  had  been 
Dick  Rover's  comment,  when  referring  to  Crab- 
tree,  Sobber,  Koswell  and  Larkspur.  "I  wish 
they  were  all  in  jail." 

"I  reckon  we  all  wish  that,"  had  been  Sam 
Rover's  reply.  "It's  an  awful  shame  that  we 
didn't  capture  at  least  one  of  'em." 

"Well,  we  might  have  caught  old  Crabtree  and 
Sobber  if  we  hadn't  broken  the  engine  of  the 
motor-boat,"  put  in  Tom. 


18  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Well,  the  engine  was  broken  in  a  good  cause," 
came  from  Dick.  And  he  spoke  the  truth,  as  my 
old  readers  well  know. 

(  Following  the  home-coming  of  the  boys,  and 
I  the  general  jubilee,  our  heroes  had  settled  down 
to  enjoy  themselves  before  going  back  to  Brill. 
They  had  intended  to  take  it  easy  on  the  farm, 
but  when  a  great  aviation  meet  was  advertised  to 
take  place  at  the  county  seat  they  could  not  resist 
the  temptation  to  be  present. 

At  this  meet  there  were  five  flying  machines, — > 
three  biplanes,  a  monoplane,  and  a  dirigible  bal- 
loon. All  made  good  records,  and  the  Rover  boys 
became  wildly  enthusiastic  over  what  they  saw^ 

"Say,  this  suits  me  right  down  to  the  ground!" 
cried  Tom. 

"What  fun  a  fellow  could  have  if  he  had  a 
flying  machine  and  knew  how  to  run  it!"  had 
come  from  Sam. 

"Exactly — if  he  knew  how  to  run  it,"  had  been 
Dick's  words.  "But  if  he  didn't  know — well,  he 
might  have  a  nasty  tumble,  that's  all." 

"Pooh,  Dick!  If  those  fellows  can  run  these 
machines,  so  can  we,"  had  been  Tom's  confident 
words. 

"We  know  all  about  autos  and  motor-boats,** 
Sam  had  put  in. 

"That's  true,  Sam.    But  a  monoplane  or  a  bi- 


SOMETHING  ABOUT  THE  ROVER  BOYS   19 

plane,  or  any  kind  of  an  aeroplane,  isn't  an  auto 
or  a  motor-boat.  ** 

"Are  you  afraid?"  demanded  Tom. 

"Oh,  no !  Only  if  we  got  a  flying  machine  we'd 
have  to  be  careful  about  what  we  tried  to  do." 

"Hurrah!  It's  settled!"  cried  Tom,  who  went 
headlong  into  everything.  "We'll  get  a  machine 
to-morrow!  How  much  do  they  cost?" 

"I  don't  know — several  thousand  dollars,  I 
fancy,"  answered  his  elder  brother. 

"Boiled  umbrellas,  Dick!    As  much  as  that?" 

"I  think  so." 

"Why  look  at  some  of  'em,"  declared  Sam. 
"Nothing  but  bamboo  poles  and  a  few  wires,  and 
canvas, — and  the  engine!" 

"Yes,  but  the  poles,  wires  and  canvas  have  to 
be  put  together  just  right,  Sam,  and  those  engines 
are  as  powerful  as  they  are  light.  And  then  don't 
forget  the  propellers,  and  the  steering  outfit,  and 
the  other  things." 

"Come  on  and  ask  one  of  the  men  about  them," 
came  from  Tom;  and  a  little  later  they  had  a 
long  talk  with  an  aviator  named  Captain  Colby, 
who  proved  to  be  a  relative  to  Larry  Colby,  one 
'of  their  former  chums  at  Putnam  Hall.  He  had 
heard  about  the  Rover  boys  and  some  of  their 
doings,  and  willingly  told  them  all  they  wanted 
to  know. 


20  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

The  boys  went  home  with  their  minds  full  of 
flying  machines,  and  as  the  Rovers  were  all  well- 
to-do,  and  as  the  three  lads  had  in  the  past  proved 
capable  of  taking  care  of  themselves,  it  was  not 
a  very  difficult  matter  for  them  to  pursuade  their; 
father  to  let  them  buy  a  biplane.  Then,  through 
Captain  Colby,  they  learned  where  the  flying 
machine  could  be  obtained,  and  the  very  next  day 
bought  the  affair  and  had  it  shipped  to  the  farm, 
and  also  arranged  with  the  aviator  to  visit  them 
and  give  them  a  number  of  lessons. 

"We've  got  three  weeks  before  we  have  to  go 
back  to  college,"  Tom  had  said.  "If  we  are  quick 
to  learn  we  can  have  lots  of  fun  in  that  time." 

"Yes,  and  if  we  do  learn,  perhaps  we  can  take 
the  biplane  to  college  with  us  and  astonish  some 
of  the  students  and  the  faculty,"  Dick  had  added. 

"That's  the  talk!"  cried  the  youngest  Rover. 
"We'll  take  it  along!" 

That  morning  Sam  had  gone  off  on  an  errand 
as  already  mentioned.  Then  Dick  and  Tom  had 
gotten  out  the  flying  machine  and  started  up  the 
engine  and  the  propellers.  The  ropes  holding 
the  biplane  had  broken  or  torn  loose  from  the 
ground,  and  now  the  machine  had  gone  off  with 
a  wild  swoop,  hurling  poor  Dick  flat  on  his  back 
and  injuring  him,  how  seriously  was  still  to  be 
learned. 


CHAPTER  III 

SAM  BRINGS  NEWS 

As  TOM  ran  over  to  his  brother's  side  he  could 
not  help  but  give  a  glance  at  the  flying  machine, 
which  was  rising  higher  and  higher  in  the  air, 
with  a  noise  from  the  engine  that  sounded  like  a 
battery  of  gattling  guns  in  action. 

"Hi !  hi !  Wot's  that  ?"  came  in  a  startled  voice 
from  the  other  side  of  the  barn,  and  Jack  Ness, 
the  Rovers  hired  man,  came  running  into  view. 
"By  gum,  if  them  boys  ain't  gone  an'  flew  with- 
out waitin'  fer  that  man  to  show  'em!  Who's 
doin'  it?  I  don't  see  nobuddy."  And  the  hired 
man  blinked  in  amazement  at  the  sight  before 
him.  "Is  Sam  in  there?" 

"Nobody  is  in  the  machine,"  answered  Tom, 
who  was  kneeling  beside  his  brother.  "Oh, 
gracious!  Look  at  that!"  he  exclaimed. 

"There  goes  the  chimbley!"  roared  Jack  Ness, 
as  the  biplane  swooped  just  high  enough  to  clear 
the  roof  of  the  Rover  homestead.  One  of  the 

21 


S2  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

wheels  underneath  struck  a  chimney  a  glancing 
blow,  hurling  the  bricks  in  all  directions.  As 
they  came  clattering  down,  from  the  house  out 
ran  Mrs.  Rover,  followed  by  her  husband  and  the 
hired  help.  Anderson  Rover  was  away  on  busi- 
ness. 

"What  is  the  matter — is  it  a — er — a  cyclone?" 
gasped  Randolph  Rover. 

"I  don't  know,  I'm  sure,"  answered  Mrs. 
Rover.  "But  it's  a  terrible  noise." 

"Look!  look!"  shrieked  the  cook,  pointing  up- 
ward. "Saints  preserve  us!"  she  moaned.  ""Pis 
the  end  of  the  world!" 

"A  flying  machine !"  murmured  Randolp  Rover. 
He  gazed  around  hurriedly.  Can  it  be  the  boys  ?" 

"Oh,  those  boys!  They  will  surely  kill  them- 
selves!" groaned  Mrs.  Rover.  "They  know  noth- 
ing about  airships!" 

"Say,  dar  ain't  nobuddy  in  dat  contraption!" 
came  suddenly  from  Aleck  Pop.  "It  am  flyin'  all 
by  itself!" 

"By  itself?"  repeated  Randolph  Rover.  "Im- 
possible, Alexander!  A  flying  machine  cannot 
run  itself.  There  must  be  somebody  to  steer, 
and  manipulate  the  engine,  and " 

"Oh,  maybe  whoever  was  in  it  fell  out!** 
screamed  Mrs.  Rover,  and  now  she  looked  ready 
to  faint. 


SAM  BRINGS  NEWS  23 

"We  must  find  out  about  this!"  returned  her 
husband  quickly.  "They  had  the  machine  in  the 
shed  back  of  the  barn."  And  he  ran  in  that  di- 
rection, followed  by  the  colored  man,  and  then 
by  his  wife  and  the  cook.  In  the  meantime  the 
biplane  soared  on  and  on,  ever  rising  in  the  air 
and  moving  off  in  the  direction  of  the  river. 

When  the  others  arrived  they  found  that  Tom 
had  carried  poor  Dick  to  the  wagon  shed  and 
placed  him  on  a  pile  of  horse  blankets,  and  wa& 
washing  his  wounded  head  with  water.  At  the 
sight  of  her  nephew  lying  there  so  still  Mrs, 
Rover  gave  a  scream. 

"Oh,  Tom,  is  he — is  he "  she  could  not  go 

on. 

"He's  only  stunned,  I  guess,  Aunt  Martha," 
was  the  reply.  "But  he  got  a  pretty  good  crack." 

"Did  the  flying  machine  do  it?"  queried  Ran- 
dolph Rover. 

"Yes.  We  had  it  tied  fast,  but  when  we  started 
the  engine  and  the  propellers  it  broke  loose  and 
ran  right  over  Dick." 

"I  dun  tole  you  boys  to  be  careful,"  burst  out 
Aleck.  "It's  a  suah  wondah  yo'  ain't  bof  killed. 
Wot  kin  I  do,  Massa  Tom?"  And  he  got  down 
on  his  knees  beside  Dick,  for  he  loved  these  lads, 
who  had  done  so  much  for  him  in  the  past. 

"He's  only  stunned,  I  think — and  he's  coming 


24  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

around  now,"  answered  Tom,  and  at  that  moment 
Dick  commenced  to  stir.  Then  he  gave  a  gasp, 
opened  his  eyes,  and  suddenly  sat  up. 

"Stop  her!    Stop  her,  Tom!"  he  murmured. 

"Dick!  Dick,  my  poor,  dear  boy!"  burst  out} 
Mrs.  Rover,  and  got  down  beside  him.  "Oh,  I 
am  so  thankful  that  you  weren't  killed!" 

"Why  —  er  —  why!"  stammered  the  oldest 
Rover  boy.  "Say,  what's  happened?"  he  went 
on,  looking  from  one  to  another  of  the  group. 
"Where's  the  biplane?" 

"Flew  away,"  answered  Tom.  "You  got 
struck  and  knocked  down,  don't  you  remember  1" 

"Ah!"  Dick  drew  a  deep  breath.  "Yes,  I 
remember  now.  Oh,  how  my  head  aches!"  He 
put  up  his  hand  and  noticed  the  blood.  "Got  a 
pretty  good  rap,  didn't  I  ?  What  did  the  machine 
do,  Tom;  go  to  smash?" 

"I  don't  know.  The  last  I  saw  of  her  she  was 
sailing  over  the  house." 

"She  kept  right  on  a-sailin',"  answered  Aleck. 
"Went  on  right  ober  de  woods  along  de  ribber." 

"You  don't  say!  Then  we'll  have  a  time  of  it 
getting  her  back."  Dick  gritted  his  teethJ! 
"Phew!  how  my  head  hurts !" 

"Bring  him  to  the  house,  and  we'll  bind  his 
head  up,"  said  Mrs.  Rover.  "I'll  wash  the  wound 
first  and  we  can  put  on  some  witch  hazel." 


SAM  BRINGS  NEWS  2$ 

"Yes,  that  or  some  peroxide  of  hydrogen," 
added  Randolph  Rover,  who  was  a  scientific 
farmer  and  something  of  a  chemist.  "That  will 
kill  any  germs  that  may  lodge  there." 

Dick  was  half  led  and  half  carried  to  the  house 
and  placed  on  a  couch  in  the  sitting  room,  and 
then  his  aunt  went  to  work  to  make  him  comfort- 
able. The  cut  was  not  a  deep  one,  and  the  youth 
was  suffering  more  from  shock  than  from  any- 
thing else. 

"I'll  be  all  right  by  to-morrow,"  he  assured 
his  Aunt  Martha.  "I  only  got  a  knock-down 
blow,  that's  all." 

"The  machine  didn't  fight  fairly,"  added  Tom, 
who  had  to  have  his  little  joke.  "It  hit  Dick  be- 
fore he  was  ready." 

"Well,  I  am  thankful  it  was  no  worse,"  an- 
swered Mrs.  Rover.  "But  it  is  bad  enough." 

"And  we'll  have  to  have  a  mason  here  to  mend 
the  chimney,"  added  Randolph  Rover. 

"I'll  get  a  man  from  the  Corners  to-morrow," 
said  Tom.  "But  say,  I'd  like  to  know  where  the 
biplane  went  to,"  he  continued  anxiously. 

"Maybe  it  landed  on  some  other  house,"  mused 
Randolph.  "If  it  did  you  may  have  more  to  pay 
for  than  a  dismantled  chimney." 

"Oh,  houses  are  few  and  far  between  in  that 
direction,  Uncle  Randolph.  "What  I  am  afraid 


26  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

of  is,  that  the  biplane  came  down  in  the  trees  or 
on  the  rocks  and  got  smashed.  That  would  be  a 
big  loss." 

"That  is  true." 

"I  can  send  Jack  Ness  and  Aleck  Pop  out  to 
look  for  the  machine,"  went  on  Tom.  "And  I 
can  go  out  myself  with  Sam,  when  he  returns." 

"Yes,  you'd  better  do  that,"  answered  Dick. 
"And  I'll  go  out  with  you  to-morrow,  if  you 
can't  locate  the  machine  to-day." 

"Better  take  it  easy,  Dick,"  cautioned  his  aunt. 

"Oh,  I'll  be  all  right  by  to-morrow,  Aunt 
Martha.  A  good  night's  sleep  will  be  sure  to  set 
me  on  my  feet  again.  And  I  can  fix  this  cut  up 
with  a  bit  of  adhesive  plaster." 

"Did  you  have  much  gasoline  on  board?" 
queried  Randolph  Rover. 

"The  tank  was  full,"  answered  Tom.  "Oh, 
the  Dartaway  could  go  a  good  many  miles,  if  she 
wanted  to,"  he  added,  dubiously. 

"The  Dartawayf  Was  that  the  name  of  the 
craft?" 

"Yes,  and  she  did  dart  away,  didn't  she?"  and 
Tom  grinned. 

"For  all  we  know,  she  may  have  gone  fifty  or 
ft  hundred  miles,"  continued  Dick.  "But  I  doubt 
it.  With  nobody  to  steer  she'd  be  bound  to  turn 
turtle  or  something  before  long." 


SAM  BRINGS  NEWS  27 

"Well,  if  she's  busted,  she's  busted,  that's  all,'* 
answered  Tom,  philosophically.  Yet  the  thought 
of  the  beautiful  biplane  being  a  wreck  caused  him 
to  sigh. 

A  few  minutes  later  the  honk  of  an  automobile; 
horn  was  heard  in  the  lane  leading  to  the  house, 
and  Sam  Rover  appeared,  driving  the  family  car. 
He  was  alone  on  the  front  seat  and  in  the  tonneau 
had  a  variety  of  things  purchased  in  the  village 
for  his  aunt  and  the  others. 

"Hello!  what  does  this  mean?"  cried  Sam,  as 
he  came  into  the  sitting  room  and  saw  Dick  with 
his  head  bound  up.  "What  did  you  do?  Did 
you  get  that  fussing  with  the  biplane?" 

"I  did,  Sam,"  was  the  answer. 

"We  both  had  a  set-to  with  her  ladyship,"  put 
in  Tom.  "And  the  biplane  floored  us  on  the  first 
round."  And  then  he  told  his  younger  brother 
of  what  had  occurred. 

"Humph!  that's  too  bad!"  murmured  Sam. 
He  took  Dick's  hand.  "Not  hurt  much,  really?'* 
he  asked  in  a  lower  voice. 

"No,  Sam,  I'll  soon  be  O.  K." 

"Jumping  lobsters!  But  this  beats  all!"  went 
on  the  youngest  Rover.  "I  don't  know  if  I  had 
better  tell  you  or  not."  And  he  looked  around, 
to  see  if  anybody  but  his  brothers  was  present 
The  grown  folks  had  left  the  room. 


28  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Tell  us  what?"  demanded  Tom,  who  quickly 
saw  that  Sam  had  something  on  his  mind. 

"Tell  you  the  news." 

"What  news?"  asked  Dick. 

"Maybe  you  can't  stand  it,  Dick.  It  will  keep 
till  to-morrow." 

"See  here,  Sam,  I'm  not  a  baby,"  retorted  the 
oldest  Rover  boy.  "If  you've  got  anything  worth 
telling  tell  it." 

"But  it  may  make  your  head  ache  worse,  Dick." 

"No,  it  won't.  Now,  what's  the  news?  Out 
with  it." 

Instead  of  answering  at  once,  Sam  Rover 
walked  over  to  the  door  and  closed  it  carefully. 

"No  use  of  worrying  the  others  about  it,"  he 
half  whispered. 

"But  what  is  it?"  demanded  Tom,  and  now  he 
showed  that  he  was  as  impatient  as  was  Dick. 

"I  got  a  letter  from  Grace  Laning,"  went  on 
Sam,  slowly,  and  turned  a  bit  red.  "She  told  me 
a  piece  of  news  that  is  bound  to  upset  you,  Dick." 

"Is  it  about  the  Stanhopes — about  Dora?" 
questioned  Dick,  half  rising  from  the  couch  on 
•which  he  rested. 

"Yes, — and  about  some  others,  too.  But  don't 
get  excited.  Nothing  very  bad  has  happened, 
yet." 


SAM  BRINGS  NEWS  29 

"What  did  happen,  Sam?  Hurry  up  and  tell 
US, — don't  keep  us  in  suspense!"  cried  Dick. 

"Well ;  then,  if  you  want  it  in  a  few  words,  here 
goes.  Grace  was  visiting  the  Stanhopes  a  few 
ciays  ago  and  she  and  Dora  went  to  Ithaca  to  doj 
some  shopping.  While  in  that  town,  coming 
along  the  street  leading  to  the  boat  landing,  they 
almost  ran  into  Tad  Sobber  and  old  Josiah  Crab- 
tree." 

"What!  Those  rascals  in  that  town — so  near 
to  the  Stanhope  home!"  exclaimed  Dick.  "And 
after  what  has  happened!  We  must  have  them 
arrested!" 

"I  don't  think  you  can  do  it,  Dick — not  from 
what  Grace  says  in  her  letter." 

"What  does  she  say?" 

"She  says  she  and  Dora  were  very  much  fright- 
ened, especially  when  they  discovered  that  both 
Sobber  and  old  Crabtree  had  been  drinking  freely. 
The  two  got  right  in  front  of  the  girls  and  com- 
menced to  threaten  them  and  threaten  us.  No- 
body else  was  near,  and  the  girls  didn't  know 
what  to  do.  But  at  last  they  got  away  and  ran  for 
the  boat,  and  what  became  of  Sobber  and  old 
Crabtree  they  don't  know." 

"What  did  the  rascals  say  to  them?"  questioned 
Tom,  who  could  see  that  his  brother  had  not  told 
all  of  his  tale. 


30  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"They  said  that  they  were  going  to  square  up 
with  Dora  and  with  Mrs.  Stanhope,  and  said  they 
would  square  up  with  us,  too,  and  in  a  way  we 
little  expected.  Grace  wrote  that  Sobber  pulled 
a  big  roll  of  bank  bills  out  of  his  pocket  and 
flourished  it  in  her  face.  'Do  you  see  that?'  he 
asked.  'Well,  I  can  get  more  where  that  came 
from,  and  I  am  going  to  use  that  and  more,  too, 
just  to  get  even  with  the  Rovers.  I'm  getting  my 
trap  set  for  them,  and  when  they  fall  into  it  they'll 
wish  they  had  never  been  born!  I'll  blow  them 
and  their  whole  family  sky-high,  that's  what  I'll 
do.'  " 

"Sobber  said  that?"  asked  Dick,  slowly. 

"So  Grace  writes.  No  wonder  she  and  Dora 
were  scared  to  death." 

"Oh,  maybe  he  was  only  blowing,  especially  if 
he  had  been  drinking  too  much,"  came  from  Tom. 

"I  don't  know  about  that,"  answered  Dick,  with 
a  long  sigh.  "With  such  a  rascal  at  liberty, — and 
with  money  in  his  pocket — there  is  no  telling  what 
will  happen." 

"What  do  you  suppose  he  meant  by  blowing  us 
'sky-high?"  asked  Tom.  But  this  question  was  not 
answered,  for  at  that  moment  Mrs.  Rover  came 
into  the  room,  and  the  course  of  the  conversation 
had  to  be  changed, — the  lads  not  wishing  to  worry 
her  with  their  new  troubles. 


CHAPTER  IV 

t 

AT  THE  TELEPHONE 

TOM  and  Sam  spent  the  balance  of  the  day  in 
looking  for  the  missing  biplane,  walking  down  to 
the  river,  and  even  visiting  Humpback  Falls, 
where  the  youngest  Rover  had  once  had  such  a 
thrilling  adventure. 

"Don't  seem  to  be  in  sight,"  remarked  Tom, 
after  they  had  tramped  through  the  woods  and 
over  the  rocks  until  they  were  tired. 

"Looks  to  me  as  if  the  Dartaway  had  gone  fur- 
ther than  we  supposed  possible,"  replied  Sam. 
"Maybe  she's  a  hundred  miles  from  here." 

"Oh,  she  may  have  gone  clean  over  to  the  ocean 
and  dropped  in,"  said  Tom.  "But  I  don't  see  how 
she  could — with  nobody  to  steer.  How  long 
would  an  auto  keep  to  the  road  without  somebody 
steering?" 

"Do  you  know  what  I  think  we  ought  to  do? 
Go  back  home  and  telephone  to  the  villages  and 
towns  in  the  direction  the  biplane  took.  Some- 

41 


32  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

body  must  have  seen  the  craft, — if  she  kept  in  the 
air." 

"By  Jove,  Sam,  that's  the  idea!  Why  didn't 
yoi»  think  of  that  before?  It  would  have  saved 
us  quite  a  tramp." 

The  two  boys  turned  back,  and  reached  home  a 
little  after  the  supper  hour.  The  meal  had  been 
held  back  for  them. 

"Any  luck?"  asked  Dick,  who  sat  in  an  easy 
chair  on  the  front  piazza..  His  cuts  had  been 
plastered  up  and  he  felt  quite  like  himself  again. 

"No  luck;  but  Sam  has  an  idea,"  answered 
Tom,  and  mentioned  what  it  was. 

"You  must  have  supper  first,"  said  Mrs.  Rover. 
JThen  you  can  do  all  the  telephoning  you  please." 
And  so  it  was  agreed. 

During  the  past  few  months  the  telephone  serv- 
ice in  the  neighborhood  of  Dexter's  Corners  had 
been  greatly  improved  and  the  lines  could  be  con- 
nected with  nearly  all  of  the  villages  and  towns 
roundabout. 

"I'll  try  Carwood  first,"  said  Sam.  "I'll  call 
lap  Tom  Bender.  He's  a  wideawake  fellow  and 
would  know  if  an  airship  had  been  seen." 

Carwood  was  soon  had  on  the  wire  and  Sam 
presently  was  talking  to  the  boy  he  had  mentioned 
— a  lad  who  worked  in  the  general  store  with  his 
father. 


AT  THE  TELEPHONE  33 

"See  an  airship?"  cried  Tom  Bender.  "We 
sure  did — scooting  over  this  burgh  like  a  streak, 
too!  Was  it  your  machine?  Who  was  running 
it ?  I  tried  to  make  out  but  couldn't" 

"Nobody  was  running  it,"  answered  Sam.  "It) 
ran  away  on  its  own  account,  from  back  of  our 
barn.  Where  did  it  go  to?" 

"Ran  away!  Suffering  toadstools,  Sam,  you. 
don't  mean  it!  I  don't  know  where  it  went,  it 
went  so  fast." 

"Which  way  was  it  headed?  Try  to  tell  me  as 
nearly  as  you  can." 

"It  was  headed  over  Bear  Hill,  near  the  Spring. 
That  would  about  take  it  over  Rayville." 

"Thank  you,  Tom;  then  I'll  call  up  somebody  in 
Rayville.  Good-bye. " 

"Oh,  say,  Sam,  hold  on  a  minute.  You  say  the 
machine  broke  away.  How  was  that?"  Tom 
Bender  was  all  curiosity. 

"We  were  trying  the  engine  and  propellers, 
that's  all.  I'll  tell  you  the  rest  when  I  see  you," 
answered  the  youngest  Rover,  and  rang  off. 
"Tom  would  keep  me  answering  questions  for  a 
year  if  I  let  him,"  he  added,  to  his  brothers. 

He  next  tried  the  Rayville  general  store,  but 
could  get  no  information  concerning  the  missing 
biplane.  Then  he  tried  several  farmers  who  were 


34  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

utter  strangers  to  him  but  whose  names  were  in 
the  telephone  directory. 

"Airship,  eh?"  queried  one  farmer,  a  man 
named  Peter  Marley.  "Well,  we  sure  did  see  an 
airship,  fer  it  came  nigh  onto  rippin'  off  the  roof 
o'  the  barn.  Ef  I  had  the  feller  here  as  was  run- 
in*  it  I'd  give  him  a  dose  o'  buckshot!  He  nigh 
scart  my  wife  into  a  fit,  he  did!" 

"Which  way  did  the  airship  go,  Mr.  Marley?" 

"Went  right  over  into  Rocker's  Woods, — over 
where  the  old  saw  mill  used  to  be." 

"Did  the  airship  come  down,  do  you  think?" 

"I  guess  so — leas'wise  she  looks  like  she  was 
goin'  to  come  down.  But  who  was  the  crazy  loon 
as  was  runnin'  her?" 

"Nobody  was  running  the  craft — she  ran  away 
on  her  own  hook. " 

"By  gum!  Ye  don't  tell  me!  No  wonder  she 
acted  so  blamed  crazy  like !  Any  reward  fer  her  ?" 
And  the  farmer's  voice  betrayed  a  sudden  interest. 

"I  don't  know — I'll  find  out,"  answered  Sam, 
and  then  consulted  hastily  with  his  brothers. 

"Tell  him  the  biplane  is  ours  and  if  he  will  help 
locate  it  and  get  it  to  a  safe  place  we  will  pay  him 
well  for  his  services,"  said  Dick. 

"When  can  we  go  to  Rayville?" 

"First  thing  in  the  morning.     There's  a  good 


AT  THE  TELEPHONE  35 

road,  and  we  can  make  the  sixteen  miles  in  the 
auto  in  no  time." 

"All  right,"  said  Sam,  and  told  Peter  Marley 
of  what  had  been  said.  The  farmer  agreed  to  re- 
main around  his  house  until  they  arrived  and  then 
'do  all  in  his  power  to  help  locate  the  Dartaway. 

"Dick,  do  you  think  you'll  be  able  to  take  that 
trip?"  questioned  Randolph  Rover.  "Hadn't  you 
better  remain  behind?  I  can  go  with  Tom  and 
Sam  if  necessary." 

"Oh,  I'll  be  all  right  in  the  morning,"  was  the 
reply. 

"But  you've  got  to  let  me  and  Sam  run  the  ma- 
chine," put  in  Tom.  "No  use  of  your  doing  that." 

"All  right,"  answered  the  eldest  Rover  boy. 

That  night,  when  the  others  had  gone  to  bed, 
the  three  Rover  boys  gathered  in  Dick's  room  to 
discuss  further  the  news  regarding  Josiah  Crab- 
tree  and  Tad  Sobber. 

"Do  you  suppose  it  is  possible  that  Sobber 
thinks  to  come  here  and  blow  the  house  up?" 
queried  Tom. 

"He  might  be  equal  to  it,"  answered  Dick,  sob- 
erly. "We'll  have  to  keep  our  eyes  peeled,  and, 
when  we  go  back  to  Brill,  we'll  have  to  warn  dad 
and  Uncle  Randolph." 

"Do  you  know,  dad  looked  worried  when  he 
went  away,"  put  in  Sam. 


36  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"I  noticed  it,  Sam.  Did  he  say  anything  to  you 
about  business?" 

"Not  a  word.    Why,  do  you  think  it's  that?" 

"There  is  some  trouble  out  west — has  been  ever 
since  there  was  a  strike  at  that  Golden  Horseshoe 
mine  in  which  dad  invested  so  heavily  last  sum- 
mer. They  had  a  strike,  and  now  one  crowd  is 
trying  to  get  the  control  from  another  crowd.  I 
don't  know  the  particulars,  but  I  guess  dad  is 
worried." 

"Dick,  don't  you  think  you  ought  to  help  him 
in  these  affairs?"  came  suddenly  from  Sam. 
"Uncle  Randolph  is  too  absorbed  in  his  books 
and  in  scientific  farming  to  pay  any  attention,  and 
— well,  dad  isn't  as  young  as  he  used  to  be — and 
we  are  growing  older." 

"I've  been  thinking  of  that,  Sam.  I  wish  I  was 
through  college,  I'd  jump  right  into  the  game  and 
try  to  take  the  load  from  his  shoulders." 

"Are  you  going  to  take  the  full  course?" 

"No,  I  talked  it  over  with  dad  last  week  and 
I'm  going  to  take  the  shorter  course.  He  said  you 
two  could  take  the  long  course  if  you  wanted  to." 

"Not  much !  The  short  course  for  yours  truly  I" 
cried  Tom. 

"Ditto  here!"  came  from  Sam. 

"I  want  to  settle  down  and  get  into  business," 
went  on  Tom. 


AT  THE  TELEPHONE 


37 


"He  thinks  Nellie  won't  wait  much  longer,"  re- 
marked Sam,  with  a  wink  at  Dick. 

"Huh!  I  guess  you  think  Grace  won't  wait!" 
snorted  Tom.  "Didn't  I  see  you  looking  over  that 
'furniture  and  picture  catalogue  the  other  day? 
'Ha!  I  caught  you,  Sammy,  my  boy!" 

"Rats!"  cried  Sam,  growing  suddenly  red  in 
the  face.  "I  was  thinking  of  buying  a  new  chair 
and  maybe  a  picture  or  two  for  our  quarters  at 
Brill.  The  old  ones  are  pretty  punk,  if  you'll  re- 
member. Besides,  we've  got  to  wait  until  Dick 
and  Dora  step  off,  you  know,"  went  on  the  young- 
est Rover. 

"That's  so — so  we  have,"  added  Tom,  with 
more  of  a  grin  than  ever.  "By  the  way,  Dick, 
how  much  longer  are  you  going  to  linger  before 
you  scrape  up  money  enough  to  pay  the  minister's 
fee?" 

"Just  long  enough  to  hammer  some  common- 
sense  into  the  heads  of  two  brothers  of  mine!" 
cried  Dick,  and  threw  a  book  at  Tom  and  a  pillow 
at  Sam.  "Now  go  to  bed  and  don't  forget  to 
wake  up  early,  for  we  want  to  be  in  Rayville  by 
eight  o'clock,  so  we  can  have  all  day,  if  necessary, 
to  locate  the  biplane."  And  then  he  chased  Tom 
and  Sam  out  of  the  bedroom  and  locked  the  door 
on  them. 

Left  to  himself,  Dick  walked  slowly  across  the 


38  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

room  to  where  the  bureau  stood.  On  the  top  was 
a  small,  framed  picture  of  Dora  Stanhope,  that 
had  been  taken  only  a  few  months  before.  Dick 
could  not  help  but  take  up  the  portrait  and  gaze  at 
it  long  and  earnestly. 

"Dear,  dear  Dora!"  he  murmured  fondly. 
*The  best  girl  in  all  this  wide  world!  Some  day 
you  are  going  to  be  Mrs.  Dick  Rover,  and  that 
day  can't  come  any  too  soon  for  me.  Oh,  I  hope 
those  rascals  don't  do  anything  more  to  harm 
you!" 

Dick  was  still  holding  the  picture  when  there 
came  a  soft  knock  on  the  door. 

"Who  is  it  ?  What  do  you  want  ?"  he  asked,  as 
he  put  the  picture  down. 

"Dick,  my  child,"  came  in  a  whisper  from  the 
fun-loving  Tom.  "Be  careful  and  don't  kiss  all 
the  glaze  off  that  photo.  She's  a  sweet  girl,  war- 
ranted all  silk  and  a  yard  wide,  but  the  glaze  may 
be  poisonous,  and " 

"Tom,  if  you  don't  get  to  bed  I'll — I'll  throw  a 
pitcher  of  water  over  you!"  cried  Dick,  and 
started  to  unlock  the  door.  With  a  merry  laugh 
Tom  ran  off;  and  that  was  the  last  seen  or  heard 
of  him  that  night. 

Before  retiring  Dick  gave  his  wounded  head 
another  application  of  liniment,  and  in  the  morn- 
ing he  was  gratified  to  find  that  much  of  the  sore- 


AT  THE  TELEPHONE 


39 


ness  was  gone.  The  cuts,  of  course,  remained, 
and  he  bound  these  up  with  extra  strips  of  ad- 
hesive plaster.  The  three  lads  had  an  early  break- 
fast, and  by  half-past  seven  o'clock  were  in  the 
touring  car,  bound  for  Rayville. 

"How  are  you  going  to  get  the  biplane  back 
here,  even  if  you  do  find  it?"  questioned  their 
uncle,  before  they  started  off. 

"I  don't  know,"  answered  Dick.  "It  will  de- 
pend on  what  condition  the  Dartaway  is  in.  She 
may  be  so  broken  up  as  to  be  unfit  for  anything, 
and  then  it  wouldn't  pay  to  move  her." 

"Well,  better  not  attempt  to  fly  in  the  craft," 
cautioned  Randolph  Rover. 

"Hardly,"  said  Tom.  "Maybe  we'll  telephone 
for  Captain  Colby  to  come  and  get  her." 

Tom  was  at  the  wheel  of  the  touring  car  and, 
once  the  farm  was  left  behind,  and  they  were  on 
a  fairly  good  country  road,  he  advancfcd  the 
spark  and  the  gasoline  control  until  tkey  were 
running  at  twenty-five  and  then  thirty  miles  an 
hour. 

"Now,  don't  get  gay,  Tom!"  warned  Dick. 
"This  road  wasn't  built  for  racing." 

"Pooh,  what's  thirty  miles  an  hour!"  declared 
the  fun-loving  Rover,  who  just  then  felt  like  "let' 
ting  out."  "You  know  this  machine  can  make 
fifty  and  better,  Dick." 


40  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"I  know  it,  but  youVe  got  to  have  a  safer  road 
than  this,  Tom." 

"Beware  of  the  turn!"  cried  Sam,  who  sat  on 
the  front  seat  with  Tom,  while  Dick  was  alone 
in  the  tonneau.  "It's  a  bad  one!" 

"I  know  it,  but  I'll  make  it,"  answered  Tom, 
and  then  the  touring  car  reached  a  bend  in  the 
road,  and  went  whizzing  around  it  with  a  sudden 
lurch  that  made  Sam  cling  desperately  to  the  seat 
and  sent  Dick  flying  from  one  side  of  the  tonneau 
to  the  other. 

"Tom,  be  careful!"  cried  Sam.  "Do  you  want 
to  pitch  me  out  on  my  head?" 

"Do  that  again,  and  I'll  make  you  let  Sam 
drive,"  came  from  Dick. 

"It  was  the  brake — it  didn't  act  just  right," 
answered  Tom,  just  a  little  frightened.  "I  think 
it's  loose." 

"Better  stop  and  look  at  it,"  answered  Dick, 
promptly. 

"Oh,  I  guess  it's  all  right,"  said  Tom.  The 
touring  car  continued  to  move  along,  up  a  wind- 
ing hill.  Then  came  a  level  stretch  for  half  a 
mile,  and  then  a  sharp  descent,  leading  into  Car- 
wood. 

"Now  be  careful "  commenced  Dick.    And 

then  stopped  short,  for  a  sudden  snapping  sound 
reached  his  ears. 


AT  THE  TELEPHONE  4r 

"What's  that?"  cried  Sam,  in  alarm. 

"The  brake — it's  broken!"  answered  Tom. 
And  then  he  set  his  teeth  grimly,  to  try  to  guide 
.the  heavy  touring  car  down  the  steep  hill  without 
Disaster. 


CHAPTER  V 

IXXDKING   FOR   THE   LOST    FLYING    MACHINE 

IT  WAS  the  foot  brake  that  had  given  away. 
The  hand  brake  was  still  fit  for  use,  but  each  of 
the  Rover  boys  remembered  with  dismay  that  this 
brake  had  been  loose  for  some  time.  They  had 
thought  to  tighten  it  up,  but  other  matters  had 
claimed  their  attention,  and  they  had  not  deemed 
it  absolutely  necessary  before  taking  the  short  trip 
to  Rayville,  since  on  starting  the  other  brake  had 
seemed  to  be  in  good  order. 

"Can  you  do  it,  Tom?"  asked  Dick,  quickly,  as 
the  big  car  gathered  headway  on  the  steep  hill. 

"I'll  try!"  was  Tom's  reply.  "But  it's  some 
hill." 

"If  only  we  don't  meet  anything,"  put  in  Sam. 
"Blow  the  horn,  Dick!" 

The  oldest  Rover  boy  did  as  requested,  leaning 
over  from  the  back  seat  to  do  so,  and  thus  leaving 
Tom  free  to  manipulate  the  steering  wheel.  Dick 
also  set  the  hand  brake  a  notch  tighter,  but  this 
did  little  good,  since  it  was  the  bands  that  were 
worn. 

4? 


LOOKING  FOR  THE  LOST  FLYING  MACHINE    43 

On  and  on  bounded  the  touring  car,  down  the 
long  hill.  On  both  sides  the  road  was  bound  by 
rocks  and  trees,  with  nasty  gullies  in  several  spots. 
Here  and  there  were  "resting  spots"  for  teams, 
and  over  these  indentations  flew  the  automobile! 
with  jolts  that  threatened  to  break  all  the  springs 
at  once. 

"The  turn!  Beware  of  the  turn!"  cried  Sam 
and  Dick  together,  when  about  three-quarters  of 
the  hill  had  been  passed. 

Tom  nodded  but  said  not  a  word.  He  had 
thrown  the  motive  power  to  the  low  gear,  and 
thus  the  engine  was  doing  something  towards 
holding  the  car  back. 

Suddenly  Dick  uttered  a  cry,  and  the  next  min- 
ute Sam  saw  him  dive  down  to  the  bottom  of  the 
tonneau  and  bring  up  several  long  ropes  to  which 
were  attached  a  number  of  hooks.  He  had  placed 
these  in  the  automobile  for  possible  use  in  getting 
the  Dartaway  out  of  the  woods  or  from  among 
the  rocks. 

With  care  Dick  took  the  hooks  and  threw  them 
out  of  the  machine.  At  the  same  time  he  leaned 
over  and  allowed  the  ends  of  the  ropes  to  catch  on 
the  swiftly-revolving  wheels  of  the  machine. 

"Maybe  they'll  hold  something — anyway  I  hope 
so,"  he  said. 

They  had  now  reached  the  turn.    Tom  was  run- 


44  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

ning  as  closely  as  possible  to  the  inner  side  and 
Dick  had  commenced  to  toot  the  horn  again. 
With  a  slipping  and  sliding,  the  touring  car  went 
over  the  dirt  and  stones,  rushing  nearer  and 
nearer  to  the  gully  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  high- 
way . 

"Look!  Look!"  screamed  Sam,  a  second  later. 
WA  carriage,  and  three  ladies  in  it!" 

He  was  right,  and  the  carriage  was  less  than  a 
hundred  yards  ahead.  But  just  now  Tom  could 
think  of  nothing  but  the  turn,  for  the  machine  was 
running  closer  than  ever  to  the  gully.  If  they 
went  down  in  that  the  touring  car  would  most 
likely  turn  turtle,  and  they  might  all  be  killed. 

But  they  did  not  go  down  into  the  gully.  By 
sheer  good  luck  Tom  managed  to  throw  the  auto- 
mobile back  into  the  roadway,  two  wheels  for  a 
second  spinning  in  midair.  Then  he  had  to  reckon 
with  the  other  danger — that  of  hitting  the  car- 
riage with  the  three  ladies. 

The  ladies  had  heard  the  tooting  of  the  auto 
horn  and  had  tried  to  draw  up  to  the  side  of  the 
road.  But  the  incline  was  still  steep  and  the  two 
horses  evidently  did  not  like  the  looks  of  that 
gully. 

"You  can't  pass  them!"  groaned  Sam,  and  just 
then  came  a  grinding  from  underneath  the  tour- 
ing car.  This  was  followed  by  a  series  of  jerks, 


TOOKING  FOR  THE  LOST  FLYING  MACHINE    45 

and  then  came  one  final  jerk  that  brought  the  auto- 
mobile to  a  standstill  and  all  but  sent  the  Rover 
boys  flying  over  the  engine  hood. 

"Well,  we've  stopped!"  panted  Tom,  when  he 
could  catch  his  breath.  "I  guess  the  brake  held 
somehow. " 

"No,  it  didn't,"  answered  Sam.  "It's  another 
brake,  one  that  Dick  heaved  overboard."  And 
he  pointed  to  the  ropes  and  hooks.  One  hook, 
the  biggest,  had  caught  in  a  rock  lining  the  gully, 
and  the  ropes  were  in  a  mess  around  the  wheels 
and  the  rear  axle. 

"Good  for  you!"  murmured  Tom.  "It  saved 
us  from  running  into  that  carriage." 

"Are  you  men  going  on?"  cried  one  of  the 
ladies,  noticing  that  the  automobile  had  come  to 
a  stop. 

"Not  just  yet!"  sang  out  Dick.  "You  can  go 
ahead  if  you  wish.  We'll  wait  until  you  get  down 
to  the  bottom  of  the  hill — and  maybe  we'll  wait 
longer,"  he  added  in  an  undertone. 

"You  scared  us  nearly  to  death,"  said  another 
of  the  ladies,  tartly;  and  then  the  carriage  went 
on  and  was  soon  lost  to  sight  on  a  side  road. 

The  three  youths  alighted,  and  after  blocking 
the  wheels  with  stones,  so  that  it  might  not  get 
away  unexpectedly,  commenced  an  inspection  of 
the  car. 


'46  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"The  ropes  wouldn't  do  much  damage  but  the 
hooks  might,"  said  Dick.  "But  I  couldn't  think 
of  anything  else  to  do." 

"It  was  grand  of  you  to  do  that,"  answered 
jTom,  warmly.  "I  was  a  fool  to  let  'her  out  as  I 
\did,"  he  added  bluntly.  "I'll  know  better  next 
'time." 

That  was  Tom,  often  headstrong  but  quick  to 
acknowledge  a  fault. 

Not  without  much  difficulty  did  the  three  youths 
manage  to  get  the  ropes  disentangled  from  the 
rear  wheels  and  the  back  axle.  It  was  found  that 
one  of  the  hooks  had  gone  into  a  tire,  causing 
a  blowout  that,  in  the  general  excitement,  nobody 
had  noticed.  But  otherwise  everything  seemed 
to  be  all  right,  apart,  of  course,  from  the  broken 
brake  rod,  and  the  boys  were  thankful. 

"I  guess  we  can  manage  to  run  to  the  nearest 
blacksmith  shop,"  said  Dick,  "and  there  we  can 
get  the  rod  mended." 

"What  a  lucky  thing  th«t  big  hook  caught  in 
the  rock!"  cried  Sam. 

"It's  the  one  thing  that  saved  us  from  going  into 
the  carriage,"  returned  Tom,  and  his  face  was 
yery  sober  as  he  spoke.  For  a  time  being  he  did 
not  feel  like  running  the  car  further  and  readily 
agreed  to  let  Sam  take  hold,  after  another  tire 
had  been  adjusted.  To  keep  the  automobile  from 


tOOKING  FOR  THE  LOST  FLYING  MACHINE    47 

going  down  the  remainder  of  the  hill  too  rapidly, 
they  allowed  one  of  the  ropes  to  remain  on  the 
rear  axle,  and  to  this  tied  a  small  fallen  tree,  that 
made  an  excellent  drag. 

When  the  level  roadway  was  gained  once 
more  they  made  good  time  to  Carwood,  and' 
there  called  on  the  blacksmith  to  repair  the  broken 
brake  rod.  While  waiting  they  ran  into  Tom 
Bender,  and  the  boy  was  very  anxious  to  know  all 
about  the  lost  aeroplane. 

"Say,  but  you  fellows  have  a  cinch!"  he  said, 
in  admiration.  "You  get  what  you  please.  Wish 
I  was  in  your  shoes!" 

"You'd  not  want  to  be  in  our  shoes  when  that 
brake  rod  broke/'  answered  Sam  bluntly.  "Eh, 
Tom?" 

"Not  much!"  replied  his  brother. 

At  last  they  were  on  the  way  again.  They  had 
telephoned  to  Peter  Marley,  so  that  the  farmer 
would  know  the  cause  of  the  delay.  Sam  did  the 
driving  and  now  the  machine  went  along  well,  and 
almost  before  they  knew  it  they  were  at  Rayville 
and  asking  the  way  to  the  Marley  farm.  This 
was  on  a  back  road,  but  the  way  was  good  and 
they  reached  the  farm  without  trouble,  excepting 
that  they  had  to  slow  down  to  let  a  herd  of  cows 
pass  them. 

"Got  here  at  last,  have  ye !"  cried  Peter  Marley, 


48  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

as  he  came  out  to  greet  them.  "You  kin  put  that 
'mobile  under  the  wagon  shed  if  ye  want  to,"  he 
added. 

"Can't  we  use  it  to  go  after  the  biplane?"  ques- 
tioned Dick. 

"No,  there  hain't  no  fit  road.  If  ye  say  so,  we 
can  go  on  hosses — if  ye  want  to  pay  fer  ridin'," 
added  the  farmer  shrewdly.  He  was  a  good  man, 
but  close,  and  never  allowed  a  chance  to  make  an 
honest  cent  slip  by. 

"All  right,  we'll  ride,"  said  Dick.  "The  horses 
may  come  in  handy  for  hauling  the  biplane, — and 
besides,  we  can't  carry  these  ropes  and  hooks  if 
we  walk. " 

So  it  was  arranged ;  and  a  little  later  the  party 
of  four  set  off  on  horseback,  the  farmer  and  Tom 
carrying  the  ropes  and  hooks,  and  Sam  keeping 
beside  Dick,  who  looked  a  trifle  pale  in  spite  of 
his  efforts  to  appear  all  right.  The  knock-down 
blow  from  the  flying  machine  had  been  harder 
than  the  eldest  Rover  boy  was  willing  to  admit. 

Rocker's  Woods  proved  to  be  a  large  patch  of 
scrub  timber,  all  the  large  trees  having  been  cut 
,down  to  feed  the  old  saw-mill,  which  still  stood  on 
4:he  bank  of  a  good-sized  stream.  The  saw-mill 
had  not  been  used  for  nine  years  and  the  timber 
was  gradually  coming  up  once  more. 

"This  is  exactly  the  way  thet  airship  tuk,"  said 


•LOOKING  FOR  THE  LOST  FLYING  MACHINE 


49 


Peter  Marley,  as  he  led  the  way.  "An'  as  she 
wasn't  runnin'  very  fast  I  guess  she  must  a-come 
down  not  very  fur  off. " 

"I  hope  so,"  answered  Dick.  "And  I  hope,  too, 
she  came  down  gently." 

"Huh!  How  could  she  come  down  any  other 
way?  Ain't  much  to  'em,  is  there,  'ceptin'  sticks 
an'  cloth." 

"The  engine  weighs  several  hundred  pounds." 

"Gee  shoo!  Several  hundred  pounds !  Say,  if 
thet's  so,  it's  great  how  they  kin  stay  up!"  burst 
out  the  farmer  in  admiration.  "Ain't  no  bird  as 
weighs  as  much  as  thet!" 

As  they  advanced  through  the  woods,  all  of  the 
party  looked  to  the  right  and  the  left  for  some 
sign  of  the  missing  biplane. 

"Here's  a  tree  top  down!"  cried  Tom,  when 
they  were  close  to  the  river  on  which  the  old  saw 
mill  was  located.  "This  looks  as  if  it  might  have 
been  done  by  the  machine." 

"Gracious,  I  wonder  if  the  airship  went  into 
the  river!"  burst  out  Sam. 

"That  might  be  a  good  thing,  if  it  did,"  an- 
swered Dick.  "It  might  save  it  from  being 
wrecked,  and  we  might  be  able  to  tow  it  ashore." 

In  a  moment  more  they  came  to  a  halt  at  the 
edge  of  the  river,  which  was  broad  and  smooth 
at  this  point.  In  the  middle  the  stream  was  ten 


5Q  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

to  twelve  feet  deep,  and  the  bottom  was  of  sand 
and  smooth  rocks. 

"I  don't  see  anything  that  looks  like  a  flying 
machine,"  said  Sam  after  a  long  look  around. 

"Maybe  after  all  it  went  over  into  the  woods 
on  the  other  side,"  returned  Dick. 

"That  must  be  it,"  said  Peter  Marley.  "I'm 
afraid  we'll  have  to  go  up  the  stream  a  bit  to  get 
across.  We  can't  ford  here." 

"How  far  to  a  good  ford?"  asked  Dick. 

"About  quarter  o'  a  mile  tudder  side  o'  the  old 
mill." 

"Say,  look  over  there!"  cried  Tom  at  this  mo- 
ment. "What  does  that  look  like  to  you,  Sam?" 

He  pointed  with  his  hand,  and  all  in  the  party 
gazed  in  the  direction  indicated,  a  point  close  to 
the  opposite  shore,  where  some  brushwood  over- 
hung the  river. 

"Why  that  looks  to  me  like  one  of  the  planes 
of  the  flying  machine !"  cried  the  youngest  Rover. 

"Just  what  I  thought,"  exclaimed  Tom.  "What 
do  you  say,  Dick?" 

j  "It  certainly  does  look  like  one  of  the  planes," 
answered  the  older  brother.  "But  don't  be  too 
sure,  or  we  may  be  disappointed." 

"Too  bad  we  can't  get  over  here,"  murmured 
Sam.  "Supposing  I  swim  it?"  he  continued. 

"No,  don't  bother,  Sam,"  replied  Dick.    "We'll 


LOOKING  FOR  THE  LOST  FLYING  MACHINE    51 

all  go  around  by  way  of  the  ford.  You  can't  do 
anything  alone  anyway." 

"But  I  might  make  sure  if  it  was  the  machine," 
insisted  Sam. 

"Never  mind;  we  want  to  get  over  there  any- 
way— to  continue  the  search — if  that  isn't  the 
machine. " 

Again  Peter  Marley  led  the  way,  along  a  trail 
that  ran  past  the  old  mill.  The  boys  came  close 
at  his  heels,  and  as  they  advanced  Tom  questioned 
the  farmer  concerning  the  place. 

"It  belongs  to  a  lumber  company,  but  it's  been 
closed  up  fer  years,"  said  Peter  Marley.  "Once 
in  a  while  tramps  hang  out  there,  but  thet's  all." 

Presently  they  found  themselves  close  to  the 
mill,  which  was  almost  ready  to  fall  down  from 
disuse  and  neglect.  As  they  rode  up  Tom  chanced 
to  glance  towards  a  side  window  and  was  sur- 
prised to  catch  sight  of  a  man  looking  curiously 
at  them.  As  soon  as  he  saw  that  he  was  discov- 
ered the  man  stepped  out  of  sight. 

"Well,  I  never!"  gasped  Tom.  "Did  you  see 
him?" 

"See  who?"  asked  his  brothers. 

"That  man  at  the  window  of  the  mill!  Unless 
I  am  greatly  mistaken  it  was  Josiah  Crabtree!" 


CHAPTER  VI 

TWO  OLD  ENEMIES 

"JbsiAH  CRABTREE!"  came  simultaneously 
from  Dick  and  Sam  Rover. 

"Yes,"  returned  Tom. 

"How  can  he  be  here,  in  this  out-of-the-way 
place?"  demanded  Sam. 

"You  must  be  mistaken,  Tom,"  came  from  the 
eldest  Rover  boy.  "Old  Crabtree  must  be  around 
Cedarville  or  in  Ithaca.  He  would  have  no  call 
to  come  to  a  place  like  this. " 

"Did  you  say  Josiah  Crabtree?"  questioned 
Peter  Marley,  curiously.  All  had  come  to  a  halt 
on  their  horses. 

"Yes,"  returned  Tom  quickly.  "Do  you  know 
him?" 

"I  used  to  know  him — fact  is,  he  once  stopped 
at  my  place  to  git  a  ride — when  he  was  a-visitin* 
thet  old  mill." 

"Then  he  visits  the  mill!"  exclaimed  Dick. 
"Tom,  you  must  have  been  right." 

52 


TWO  OLD  ENEMIES 


53 


"But  why  does  he  come  here?"  questioned  Sam. 

"Why  as  near  as  I  know,  some  relative  o'  his'n 
used  to  have  an  interest  in  the  lumber  company 
as  run  the  mill,"  replied  the  farmer.  "It  was  a 
man  named  Foxwell.  He's  dead  now.  Maybe  he 
left  his  share  o'  the  place  to  this  man  Crabtree. 
He  was  a  teacher,  wasn't  he?" 

"He  was,  years  ago.  Since  then  he  has  been 
a  jailbird,"  answered  Tom. 

"A  jailbird!" 

"Yes,  he  was  in  jail  for  a  number  of  years — 
and  since  he  has  been  out  he  has  been  trying  his 
best  to  make  trouble  for  us  and  for  some  of  our 
friends,"  went  on  Tom.  "Come  on,  let's  go  after 
him,  instead  of  talking,"  he  added,  as  he  dis- 
mounted. 

"That's  the  talk!"  cried  Sam.  "The  biplane 
can  wait." 

Dick  was  as  willing  as  his  brothers  to  go  after 
the  former  teacher  of  Putnam  Hall,  and  leaving 
the  farmer  to  take  care  of  the  horses,  all  three 
ran  up  to  the  door  of  the  old  mill.  It  was  un- 
locked, and  one  of  the  hinges  was  broken,  and  it 
.was  an  easy  matter  for  them  to  push  their  way 
into  the  building. 

"Do  you  think  Tad  Sobber  is  with  old  Crab- 
tree?"  asked  Sam,  in  a  low  voice. 


54 

"It  may  be — since  they  were  together  when  the 
girls  saw  them,"  returned  Dick. 

"We  ought  to  have  armed  ourselves,"  put  in 
Tom.  The  boys  had  no  weapons  of  any  kind. 

"Here  are  some  old  barrel  staves,"  said  Tom.. 
"They  are  better  than  nothing."  And  he  picked 
up  a  stave  and  his  brothers  followed  suit 

With  caution  the  three  Rover  boys  advanced 
through  the  old  mill,  which,  because  of  the  closed 
doors  and  dirty  windows,  was  a  gloomy  place  in 
spite  of  the  brightness  of  the  day  outside.  All 
listened  intently,  but  nof  a  sound  reached  their 
ears,  excepting  Mr.  Marley's  voice  as  he  talked 
to  the  restless  horses. 

"Supposing  I  call  to  him?"  suggested  Dick. 

"It  can't  do  any  harm,"  answered  Sam. 

"Hello,  Mr.  Crabtree!"  sang  out  Tom,  without 
waiting  for  his  brother.  "Where  are  you?  Why 
don't  you  show  yourself?" 

All  waited  after  this  call.  But  no  reply  came 
back,  and  then  Dick  and  Sam  called. 

"He's  a  bit  bashful,"  was  Tom's  grinning  com- 
ment. "Wants  to  be  hauled  out  by  the  coattails, 
I  guess.  Come  on,  we'll  soon  locate  him,"  and  he 
started  forward. 

"Be  careful,  Tom!"  warned  his  elder  brother. 
"He  may  set  a  trap  for  you!  You  know  he  and 
Sobber  are  not  to  be  trusted." 


TWO  OLD  ENEMIES 


55 


"I've  got  my  eyes  open,"  answered  the  fun- 
loving  Rover  sturdily. 

With  the  barrel  staves  in  hand,  the  three  Rover 
boys  advanced  further  and  further  into  the  old 
mill,  going  from  one  room  to  another.  Occasion- 
ally they  stumbled  over  bits  of  lumber  and  piles 
of  sawdust,  for  when  the  place  had  been  shut 
down  no  attempt  had  been  made  to  clean  up. 
Even  some  of  the  machinery  had  been  left  and 
this  was  now  so  rusted  that  it  was  practically  un- 
fit for  use. 

"Say,  Mr.  Crabtree,  why  don't  you  show  your- 
self?" called  out  Dick.  "Are  you  afraid?" 

"You  get  out  of  here!"  came  the  unexpected 
answer,  from  a  small  toolroom,  the  door  to  which 
was  split  but  tightly  closed.  "You  Rovers  have 
no  right  on  this  property!" 

The  boys  recognized  the  harsh  and  dictatorial 
voice  of  Josiah  Crabtree, — less  pleasant  now  than 
it  ever  had  been.  They  saw  the  former  teacher 
glaring  at  them  from  the  split  in  the  toolroom 
door. 

"Mr.  Crabtree,  come  out  here  and  let  us  talk  to 
ijyou,"  said  Dick,  quietly  but  firmly. 

"I  don't  want  to  talk  to  you — I  want  you  to 
leave  these  premises,"  snarled  the  man. 

"Why  should  we  leave?"  asked  Tom. 

"Because  this  is  my  property." 


56  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Your  property?"  cried  Sam.    "How  so?" 

"It  was  left  to  me  by  a  distant  relative.  I 
won't  have  you  on  the  place." 

"Mr.  Crabtree,  do  you  know  that  we  can  have 
you  arrested?"  said  Dick,  sharply. 

"Arrested?    What  for?" 

"For  the  abduction  of  Mrs.  Stanhope." 

"I  didn't  abduct  her — she  went  along  of  her 
own  free  will — I  can  prove  it." 

"You  know  that  statement  is  false.  You  carried 
her  off  against  her  will — and  did  what  you  could 
to  hypnotize  her  into  marrying  you.  Mr.  Crab- 
tree,  you  are  a  villain,  and  you  ought  to  be  re- 
turned to  the  prison  from  which  you  came." 

"Don't  you  dare  to  talk  to  me  like  that !  Don't 
you  dare!"  fairly  shrieked  Josiah  Crabtree.  "I 
know  my  rights,  and  some  day  I'll  have  the  law  on 
you  boys!  You  are  responsible  for  my  being  sent 
to  prison,  and  but  for  you  Mrs.  Stanhope  would 
have  married  me  long  ago.  Now  I  want  you  to 
leave  these  premises,  and  don't  you  dare  to  come 
back." 

"Is  Tad  Sobber  with  you?"  asked  Tom. 

"I  am  not  here  to  answer  questions,  Tom 
Rover.  I  want  to  leave,  and  at  once." 

"Mr.  Crabtree,  you  listen  to  me,"  said  Dick, 
stepping  closer  to  the  crack  in  the  door.  "We  are 
not  afraid  of  you,  and  we  want  you  and  Tad  Sob- 


TWO  OLD  ENEMIES  57 

her  to  know  it.  Were  it  not  for  the  unpleasant 
publicity  for  Mrs.  Stanhope  and  her  daughter, 
we'd  have  you  in  the  lock-up  inside  of  twenty- 
four  hours.  We  understand  that  you  and  Sobber 
have  been  threatening  the  Stanhopes  and  the  Lan- 
•ngs  again,  and  also  threatening  us.  Now  these 
threats  have  got  to  stop,  and  you  have  got  to  be- 
have youself.  If  you  don't  behave  yourself  we 
are  going  to  make  it  our  business  to  see  that  you 
are  arrested,  and  we'll  do  our  level  best  to  have 
you  placed  behind  the  bars  for  a  long  term  of 
years." 

"I — I — will — er "  stammered  the  former 

teacher  of  Putnam  Hall.  He  did  not  know  how 
to  proceed. 

"Ah,  don't  you  get  scared !"  came  in  a  low  voice 
from  inside  the  toolroom.  "You  know  what  the 
Rovers  are." 

"It  must  be  Tad  Sobber !"  cried  Tom.  "Sobber, 
if  you  are  in  there  why  don't  you  show  yourself? 
Are  you  scared?" 

"Of  course  he  is  scared,"  put  in  Sam. 

"I'm  not  scared!"  roared  the  bullying  voice  of 
the  youth  who  had  claimed  the  fortune  from 
Treasure  Isle.  "I  am  not  scared  and  you  know 
it." 

"So  you  are  really  there,  Sobber,"  put  in  Dick. 


58  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"I  thought  as  much.  Well,  you  heard  what  I  said 
to  Crabtree.  It  applies  to  you  as  well." 

"Bah,  Dick  Rover,  you  can't  scare  me!"  re- 
turned Tad  Sobber  savagely.  "Just  now  you 
think  you  are  on  top.  But  wait,  that's  all.  That 
treasure  belongs  to  me  and  I  mean  to  have  it. 
And  I  mean  to  square  up  for  the  way  you  have 
treated  me,  too. " 

"Are  you  two  going  to  settle  down  here?" 
asked  Sam,  just  for  something  to  say. 

"That  is  none  of  your  business,"  answered 
Josiah  Crabtree.  "Now  I  want  you  to  leave." 

"Sobber,  what  has  become  of  Jerry  Koswell 
and  Bart  Larkspur?"  asked  Dick,  wishing  to 
know  something  of  those  former  good-for-noth- 
ing students  of  Brill  College. 

"Never  you  mind  what  has  become  of  them," 
answered  Sobber.  "But  'don't  think  you  have 
seen  the  last  of  them,  Dick  Rover.  They  haven't 
forgotten  how  you  treated  them  on  Chesoque 
Island  and  elsewhere,  and  they  mean  to  even  up 
that  score." 

"Are  they  here  with  you?" 

"No.  But  I'm  going  to  keep  in  touch  with 

them,  and  some  day  we But  never  mind  now. 

Just  you  wait,  that's  all!"  finished  Tad  Sobber, 
meaningly. 

"You'll  try  to  play  us  foul, — just  as  you  tried 


TWO  OLD  ENEMIES  59 

in  the  past,"  said  Dick.  "Very  well,  I'll  remem- 
ber that,  Sobber.  And  you  remember  what  I  told 
you.  The  next  time  there  is  trouble  we'll  fight  it 
out  to  the  bitter  end." 

There  was  a  moment  of  silence. 

"I  want  you  to  go  away,"  said  Josiah  Crab^ 
tree,  and  there  was  just  a  trace  of  nervousness  in 
his  tones.  Evidently  Dick's  firm  words  had  had 
some  effect. 

"We  -^re  going,"  answered  Dick.  "Both  of 
you  remember  what  I  said. "  And  then  he  motioned 
to  his  brothers ;  and  all  three  left  the  old  mill. 

"Well,  did  ye  find  the  feller  ye  was  after?" 
queried  Peter  Marley,  as  the  boys  came  out  to 
where  he  stood  with  the  horses. 

"We  did,"  answered  Dick,  and  nudged  his 
brothers,  to  keep  them  quiet.  "It's  Josiah  Crab- 
tree  all  right.  And  we  had  quite  a  talk  with  him." 

"Wot's  he  going  to  do  here?" 

"He  says  it  is  his  property — left  to  him  by  a 
distant  relative.  He  ordered  us  away." 

"Must  have  been  Foxwell  left  him  the  place. 
Is  he  going  to  start  the  mill  up  ag'in?" 

"He  didn't  say." 

"If  he's  a  jailbird  I'll  hate  to  see  him  in  these 
parts,"  went  on  the  farmer  soberly. 

"Well,  it  won't  hurt  you  to  keep  an  eye  on 
him,  Mr.  Marley,"  answered  Dick,  and  then. 


60  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

struck  with  a  sudden  idea,  he  continued;  "And 
if  you  see  or  hear  anything  wrong  about  him, 
will  you  do  us  the  favor  to  let  us  know  at  once, 
over  the  telephone,  or  otherwise?  I'll  pay  you 
'•for  the  calls." 
i  "Sure  I'll  let  you  know — if  I  hear  anything." 

"I  might  as  well  tell  you  that  he  is  down  on  us 
and  down  on  some  of  our  friends,  and  he  and  a 
young  fellow  with  him  named  Tad  Sobber  may 
try  to  play  us  foul  in  some  way.  So,  if  you  hear 
of  anything  strange,  let  us  know  by  all  means." 

"You  can  depend  on  it,  I  will,"  replied  Peter 
Marley. 

"And  now  to  see  if  that  really  was  the  biplane !" 
cried  Tom,  when  the  party  was  once  more  on 
horseback.  "Let  us  try  to  forget  old  Crabtree 
and  Sobber.  One  trouble  at  a  time  is  enough. 
If  that  was  the  flying  machine,  I  hope  she  isn't 
damaged  much,"  he  added,  wistfully,  for  he  had 
hoped  to  get  a  good  deal  of  sport  out  of  sailing 
the  Dartaway. 

"Well,  if  that  was  the  biplane,  she  must  have 
landed  in  the  river,  and  that  would  break  the 
shock  some,"  said  Sam,  hopefully. 

"Yes,  especially  if  she  came  down  on  a  slant," 
added  Dick.  "Maybe  she  struck  the  water  and 
scaled  along  like  a  clamshell." 

Along  the  river  they  proceeded  for  quite  a 


TWO  OLD  ENEMIES  6l 

tance  and  then  came  to  the  spot  that  the  farmer 
said  was  the  ford. 

"Not  so  very  shallow  either,"  was  Dick's  com- 
ment. "Mr.  Marley,  are  you  sure  of  the  foot- 
ing?" 

"Yes,  I've  been  across  any  number  of  times," 
was  the  answer.  "I'll  lead  the  way.  Be  careful, 
fer  the  rocks  is  slippery  an'  if  a  hoss  goes  down 
he  might  give  ye  a  nasty  tumble." 

And  then  Peter  Marley  urged  his  steed  into 
the  river  and  one  by  one  the  Rover  boys  followed 
him. 


CHAPTER  VII 

* 

THE  RUNAWAY   HORSES 

IN  THE  middle  of  the  river  the  ford  was  so 
•deep  that  the  water  almost  touched  the  feet  of 
the  riders.  But  fortunately  the  current  was  slug- 
gish, so  the  horses  managed  to  keep  their  footing. 
They  were  allowed  to  take  their  own  time,  so  it 
took  several  minutes  to  gain  the  opposite  shore. 

"Well,  I'm  glad  we  are  out  of  that,"  was  Tom's 
comment,  as  they  reached  a  trail  on  the  other 
bank. 

"We'll  have  to  endure  it  again,  to  get  back," 
said  Sam.  "And  what  about  the  biplane?" 

"Just  wait  till  we  find  the  machine  first,  * 
answered  Dick,  with  a  faint  smile.  "You  know 
/the  old  saying,  'Don't  count  your  chickens '  " 

"Before  they  are  fried,"  finished  Tom,  with 
!a  grin.  "You  see,  somebody  might  lift  them  from 
the  henroost  before  you  had  a  chance  to  cook 
them,"  he  went  on  soberly. 

"By  gum!  thet  ain't  no  joke  nuther!"  burst  in 
62 


THE  R UNA  WA  Y  HORSES  63 

Peter  Marley.  "Many  a  chicken  I've  lost  through 
tramps  an'  wuthless  niggers." 

They  had  to  go  around  several  walls  of  rocks 
and  through  a  tangle  of  brushwood,  and  then 
came  to  a  small  clearing  where  was  located  the, 
remains  of  a  wood-cutter's  hut.  Not  far  beyond 
was  the  locality  where  they  had  seen  the  object 
that  looked  like  one  of  the  biplane's  wings. 

It  must  be  confessed  that  the  hearts  of  the 
three  boys  beat  a  bit  faster  as  they  drew  closer. 
Would  they  find  the  flying  machine,  and  if  so, 
would  it  be  in  serviceable  condition  or  so  smashed 
up  as  to  be  worthless? 

"There  she  is!"  burst  from  Tom's  lips,  and  he 
pointed  out  into  the  water. 

"Right  down  between  half  a  dozen  big  rocks," 
added  Sam.  "Is  she  smashed  much?  How  about 
the  engine,  Dick?" 

"The  engine  is  there,  but  I  can't  tell  if  it'i 
broken  or  not.  We'll  soon  find  out." 

The  big  biplane  lay  among  some  rocks  and 
bushes,  the  latter  overhanging  the  water,  which 
at  this  spot  was  less  than  two  feet  deep.  By  tak- 
ing off  their  shoes  and  socks,  and  rolling  up  their 
trousers,  the  boys  were  able  to  wade  out  to  the 
flying  machine  and  make  an  inspection. 

"One  of  the  planes  is  broken,"  said  Dick.  "But 
as  the  bamboo  poles  are  merely  split  I  think  thef 


64  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

can  be  repaired  with  some  fine  wire, — just  as  we 
repair  a  split  baseball  bat." 

"But  the  engine?"  asked  Sam,  impatiently. 

al  think  the  engine  is  all  right — at  least  it  looks 
all  right  to  me.  Of  course  we  can't  be  sure  until 
we  clean  it  up  and  try  it." 

"Then  she  must  have  struck  the  water  on  the 
slant  and  that  must  have  broken  the  shock,"  said 
Tom;  and  this  surmise  was  undoubtedly  correct, 
for  had  the  Dartaway  come  down  squarely  on  the 
rocks  the  planes  and  the  engine  must  have  been 
broken  to  bits. 

**Do  you  think  we  can  get  her  ashore?"  asked 
Sam. 

"Sure  we  can,  by  the  aid  of  the  hooks  and 
ropes,  and  the  horses.  But  we  want  to  be  careful 
how  it's  done.  There  is  no  sense  in  breaking  the 
machine  still  more." 

"We  might  get  some  planks  from  that  old  hut 
and  roll  the  wheels  up  on  them,"  suggested  Tom. 
"I  don't  believe  anybody  uses  the  hut." 

"No,  that  ain't  been  used  for  years,"  said  Peter 
Marley.  "Ye  can  tear  down  the  hull  thing  if  ye 
jpvant  to." 

The  boys  and  the  farmer  set  to  work,  and 
presently  they  had  several  rough  planks  taken 
from  the  sides  of  the  hut.  They  had  the  horses 
drag  these  down  to  the  water,  and  by  hard  work 


THE  RUNAWAY  HORSES  65 

managed  to  get  the  planks  under  the  flying  ma- 
chine. As  the  planks  were  of  wood  they  aided 
in  floating  the  affair. 

"By  jinks!  I've  got  an  idea!"  suddenly  cried 
Dick.  "We'll  want  the  machine  on  the  other  side 
of  the  river.  Why  not  build  a  raft  and  float  her 
over  instead  of  bringing  her  ashore  here  ?  There 
is  plenty  of  stuff  in  that  old  hut. " 

"That's  the  ticket!"  answered  Tom.  "Hurrah 
for  a  life  on  the  rolling  deep!" 

"It's  a  good  idee,"  was  the  farmer's  comment. 
"I  was  wonderin'  how  we'd  git  over  with  the  con- 
traption. You  kin  keep  on  shovin'  planks  an'  logs 
under  till  she  floats,  an'  tie  them  together  with 
the  ropes  ye  brung  along.  A  good  idee." 

It  was  not  until  noon  that  they  had  the  so- 
called  raft  built  and  the  biplane  fastened  to  it. 
The  work  had  made  them  all  hungry  and  they 
were  glad  that  they  had  brought  along  a  sub- 
stantial lunch.  They  sat  down  in  the  shade  of  the 
woods  to  eat,  washing  the  meal  down  with  some 
water  from  a  spring  back  of  the  old  hut, — or 
rather  of  what  was  now  left  of  the  structure. 
While  the  boys  ate  they  talked  about  Josiah  Crab- 
tree  and  Tad  Sobber  and  the  others  who  were 
their  enemies. 

"They'll  surely  try  to  do  something,"  said  Didc. 


66  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"But  what  it  will  be  I  can't  guess.  We'll  have  to 
keep  on  guard." 

"Who  is  going  to  go  on  the  raft?"  asked  Sam. 
"It  won't  carry  all  of  us." 

"I'll  pole  it  over,"  answered  Dick.  "The  rest 
of  you  will  have  to  go  around  by  the  ford." 

"Don't  you  want  any  help?"  asked  Tom. 

"No,  I  think  I  can  do  it  alone.  If  two  of  us 
got  on  the  raft  it  might  sink  too  deep  and  get 
stuck  on  the  rocks." 

So  it  was  arranged,  and  a  few  minutes  later 
Dick  set  off.  Peter  Marley  had  cut  for  him  a 
slender  but  tough  pole,  which  he  was  to  use  in 
shoving  the  novel  craft  across  the  stream. 

"Don't  go  overboard!"  cried  Sam. 

Tm  going  to  take  off  the  most  of  my  cloth- 
ing," answered  the  older  brother.  "You  can 
carry  the  things  for  me — and  don't  drop  them  at 
the  ford." 

Soon  Dick  was  on  the  way,  standing  behind 
the  biplane  and  using  the  long  pole  as  best  he 
could.  He  was  in  water  up  to  his  ankles  and  as 
the  planks  were  slippery  he  had  to  watch  his 
'footing.  Once  he  came  close  to  going  overboard 
but  saved  himself  by  clutching  one  of  the  wire 
stays  of  the  machine. 

In  the  middle  of  the  stream  the  current  caught 
the  raft  and  forced  it  down  the  river  for  quite  a 


"THERE  SHE  is!"  BURST  FROM  TOM'S  LIPS. — Page  63. 

The  Rover  Boys  in  the  Air. 


THE  RUNAWAY  HORSES  67 

distance.  But  Dick  had  expected  this,  and  kept 
his  eyes  on  a  sandy  stretch  still  further  below. 
He  poled  along  with  vigor,  and  did  what  he  could 
to  avoid  the  rocks  and  shallows.  Once  tne  raft 
caught  fast,  but  soon  he  had  it  loose  again,  and 
•a  few  minutes  later  the  sandy  stretch  was  gained 
and  he  sent  the  raft  shoreward  with  all  his  force. 
It  came  up  on  the  sand  and  there  it  stuck;  and 
the  voyage  was  at  an  end.  Somewhat  out  of 
breath,  Dick  sat  down  to  await  the  coming  of  the 
others. 

"Safe  and  sound,  eh?"  cried  Tom,  as  he 
galloped  up  from  the  ford.  "Good  enough!" 

"Now  what's  the  next  move?"  asked  Sam, 
who  was  at  his  brother's  heels. 

"We'll  let  the  horses  pull  the  whole  concern 
up  into  the  meadow,"  answered  Dick.  And  as 
soon  as  Peter  Marley  arrived  this  was  done,  (and 
then  the  biplane  was  unfastened  from  the  raft 
and  rolled  still  further  inland,  to  a  level,  grassy 
field  belonging  to  a  farm  of  the  vicinity. 

The  boys  were  anxious  to  learn  if  the  engine 
of  the  flying  machine  was  in  running  order,  and 
tall  set  to  work  at  once,  drying  and  cleaning  the 
'parts.  Fortunately  the  gasoline  tank  had  re- 
mained airtight.  While  Tom  looked  over  the 
spark  plugs  and  Sam  tried  the  oil  feed,  Dick 
adjusted  the  carburetor  and  magneto. 


68  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Now  I  guess  we  can  try  it,"  said  the  eldest 
Rover  boy,  at  last.  "But .we'll  tie  her  down  first, " 
he  added,  with  a  grin. 

"Yes,  and  good  and  hard  this  time,"  added 

Tom. 

•  i 

"Rope  her  to  the  raft,"  suggested  Sam.  "And 
drive  a  few  stakes  in  the  ground,  too,"  and  this 
was  done. 

It  was  a  wonder  that  none  of  the  propeller 
blades  had  been  broken,  yet  such  was  a  fact. 
They  were  scratched  and  nicked,  but  a  coat  of 
varnish  would  soon  remedy  all  that. 

Dick  turned  on  the  spark,  adjusted  the  gasoline 
feed,  and  then  he  and  Tom  took  hold  of  the  pro- 
peller blades.  Half  a  dozen  turns  proved  un- 
availing and  the  boys  looked  glumly  at  each  other. 
Had  the  engine  been  damaged  after  all? 

"Give  her  another,"  said  Dick,  and  this  was 
done.  Then  the  engine  suddenly  responded,  and 
there  followed  those  gatling-gun  like  explosions 
that  set  the  horses  to  prancing  wildly. 

"Hi!  hi!  let  up  with  thet  racket!"  yelled  Peter 
Marley.  "If  ye  don't  them  hosses  will  run  away!", 

"All  right,  I'll  stop  her  and  you  can  take  the^ 
horses  up  into  the  field,"  answered  Dick. 

He  sprang  to  the  front  of  the  biplane  to  stop 
the  engine,  but  ere  he  could  do  so  one  of  the 
horses  broke  away  and  galloped  madly  away  in 


THE  R  UNA  WA  Y  HORSES  69 

the  direction  of  the  woods.     Then  another  fol- 
lowed. 

"There  they  go!"  bawled  the  farmer,  lustil^. 
"Stop  'em!" 

Sam  and  Tom  leaped  to  do  as  bidden.     Bu  • 
they  were  too  late,  and  so  was  Peter  Marley 
Across  the  field  dashed  the  horses,  badly  fright- 
ened by  the  noise,  and  in  a  few  seconds  they  dis< 
appeared  into  the  timber. 

"Well,  by  gum !  Now  what's  to  be  did?"  asked 
the  farmer  helplessly. 

"Let's  go  after  'em!"  answered  Tom,  running 
for  the  horse  he  had  ridden.  "We  ought  to  be 
able  to  catch  them,  Mr.  Marley.  Dick  and  Sam 
can  stay  here." 

"All  right,  we'll  try  it,"  answered  the  farmer. 
"But  them  critters  is  powerful  runners,  I  can 
tell  ye  thet!  That  black  don't  like  no  better  fun 
than  to  run  away." 

"Take  care  of  yourself,  Tom,"  called  Dick, 
who  had  now  stopped  the  engine.  And  then  he 
and  Sam  watched  their  brother  and  the  farmer  as 
they  went  riding  away  at  top  speed  after  the  run- 
jaway  steeds. 

"Well,  anyway,  the  engine  seems  to  be  O.  K.," 
remarked  Sam,  after  the  others  had  disappeared. 
"And  the  propellers  go  around  like  circular  saws. 
Now  all  we've  got  to  do  is  to  have  those  bamboo 


70  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

sticks  bound  up,  or  replaced  by  new  ones. 
Wouldn't  it  be  great  if  we  could  go  home  in  this 
machine!"  he  added,  enthusiastically. 

The  boys  inspected  the  split  poles  and  the  can-, 
vas,  which  had  been  punctured  in  several  places, 
and  then  tried  the  engine  once  more. 

"Makes  a  lot  of  noise,"  was  Sam's  comment. 
^You'd  think  it  was  half  a  dozen  Fourths  of 
July  rolled  into  one." 

Presently  they  saw  a  farmer  approaching,  ac- 
companied by  two  boys.  The  farmer  had  a  shot- 
gun in  his  hands,  and  each  of  the  boys  carried  a 
club. 

"Wot's  this  noise  about,  an'  wot's  that  thing?" 
demanded  the  farmer,  and  he  showed  his  nervous- 
ness by  the  way  he  handled  his  gun. 

"This  is  an  airship,"  answered  Dick,  pleasantly. 
"I  was  trying  the  engine,  that's  all." 

"Gosh  all  hemlock !  An  airship,  eh  ?  I  thought 
it  was  a  company  o'  soldiers  firm'  their  rifles! 
Wot  be  you  a'doin'  here  in  my  pasture  lot?" 

"Is  this  your  lot?" 

"It  sure  is,  an'  has  been  for  forty  years." 

"We  came  here  with  Mr.  Martey,  of  Rayville, 
to  get  the  machine.  It  got  away  from  us  and 
landed  in  the  river.  We  dragged  it  over  here,* 
explained  Dick.  "We'll  make  it  right  with  yoti 
for  using  the  lot,"  he  added,  with  a  smile. 


THE  RUN  A  WA  Y  HORSES  yi 

*Oh,  so  thet's  it,  eh  ?  Well,  you're  welcome  to 
use  the  lot,"  said  John  Snubble.  "I'm  glad  o' 
the  chanct  to  see  an  airship.  Boys,  this  is  one 
of  them  airships  you  read  about  in  the  papers," 
,he  went  on  to  his  two  sons.  "Ain't  no  danger  o* 
•an  explosion,  is  there?"  he  asked  anxiously,  as  he 
slowly  drew  closer. 

"I  don't  think  so,"  answered  Dick.  And  then 
he  explained  to  Mr.  Snubble  how  the  two  horses 
had  become  frightened  and  run  away,  and  how 
Mr.  Marley  and  Tom  had  gone  after  the  runaway 
steeds. 

"It's  too  bad  it's  broke,"  said  one  of  the 
farmer's  sons.  "I'd  like  to  see  her  go  up." 

"So  would  I,"  added  the  other. 

"Perhaps  you'll  see  her  go  up  when  she's 
mended,"  said  Sam. 

"If  this  is  your  farm,  could  you  rent  me  a 
shed  in  which  to  store  this  biplane  until  she  is 
mended?"  said  Dick,  to  the  farmer. 

"Maybe  I  can,"  was  the  slow  answer.  "But 
we'd  have  to  keep  the  thing  out  o'  sigh*  o'  the 
bosses  an'  cattle,  or  they'd  cut  up  wuss  nor  them 
hoses  did  wot  run  away,"  the  man  added  soberly. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

TRIAL  FLIGHTS 

IT  WAS  a  full  hour  before  Tom  and  Peter  Mar- 
ley  came  back  and  even  then  they  did  not  bring 
the  runaway  horses  in  the  field  where  the  biplane 
was  located. 

"Won't  take  no  more  chances,"  said  the  farmer. 
"I  kin  tie  'em  down  here  on  the  edge  o'  the  woods 
jest  as  well."  And  this  was  done. 

"Well,  we  may  as  well  store  the  machine  here 
for  the  present,"  said  Dick.  "We'll  have  to  get 
some  piano  wire  for  those  broken  poles." 

"Aren't  you  going  to  try  to  take  it  home?" 
asked  Tom,  in  surprise. 

"What's  the  use?  This  is  a  good  field  to  fly 
from.  We  can  mend  the  Dartaway  here  and  then, 
if  Captain  Colby  is  willing,  he  can  sail  her  from 
here  to  our  farm." 

A  big  wagon  shed  was  cleaned  out,  and  John 
Snubble  and  his  sons  aided  the  others  in  rolling 
the  biplane  under  the  roof.  Some  old  blankets 

were  thrown  over  the  engine. 

72 


TRIAL  FLIGHTS  73 

"Do  you  think  she'd  be  safe  here?"  whispered 
Dick,  to  Peter  Marley. 

"She  will  be  so  far  as  Snubble  is  concerned," 
•said  the  farmer.  "He'll  leave  her  alone,  an'  so 
will  his  sons.  But  some  outsider  may  come  an* 
fool  with  her." 

"Well,  we've  got  to  take  that  chance,"  re- 
turned the  eldest  Rover  boy.  "We  won't  leave 
the  biplane  here  any  longer  than  necessary." 

It  was  not  until  nearly  supper  time  that  the  boys 
got  back  to  Rayville.  Here  Peter  Marley  was 
paid  for  what  he  had  done,  and  then  the  youths 
lost  no  time  in  running  out  their  automobile  and 
going  home. 

The  next  day  they  telegraphed  to  the  aviator 
who  was  to  give  them  lessons  in  sailing  the  Dart- 
aivay,  and  he  came  as  soon  as  he  could.  He  lis- 
tened with  much  interest  to  what  the  lads  had  to 
tell  him. 

"Well,  it  was  certainly  a  great  try-out!"  he  de- 
clared. "It  proves  that  the  Dartaway  is  a  well- 
balanced  machine,  and  that  means  much." 
i  He  had  brought  with  him  the  necessary  wire 
for  repairs,  and  soon  all  were  on  the  way  to  the 
Snubble  farm,  taking  a  road  that  would  land 
them  directly  at  the  door. 

"Gfod  you  come!"  cried  John  Snubble  on  see- 


74  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

ing  the  boys.  "Going  to  take  the  machine  right 
away,  ain't  you?" 

"We  hope  to,"  answered  Dick.  "Why?"  For 
he  saw  that  the  farmer  had  something  on  his 
mind. 

"Might  have  been  burnt  up  last  night,  that's 
why." 

"Burnt  up!"  cried  Tom.    "How?" 

"Heard  a  noise  outside  about  eleven  o'clock — 
my  wife  did,  she  ain't  well  an'  don't  sleep  good. 
I  came  down  with  my  shotgun,  thinkin'  chicken 
thieves  might  be  around.  I  heard  somebuddy  at 
the  flyin'  machine  and  sneaked  up  to  see  who  it 
was.  Hang  my  skin  if  a  young  feller  wasn't 
there  with  a  lighted  candle  an'  some  loose  hay, 
and  wantin'  to  start  a  fire  close  to  the  gasoline 
tank!  I  gave  a  yell,  an'  he  dropped  the  candle 
and  legged  it  for  dear  life." 

"Why  didn't  you  stop  him,  or  shoot  him?" 
queried  Sam. 

"I  was  too  excited,  fer  the  candle  dropped  into 
the  hay  an'  it  begun  to  blaze  up.  I  stamped  the 
fire  out,  an'  by  that  time  the  feller  was  out  o* 
sight." 

"He  must  have  wanted  to  blow  the  biplane  up!" 
exclaimed  Captain  Colby. 

"He  sure  did,  an'  he  might  have  burnt  up  the 


TRIAL  FLIGHTS  75 

shed  an'  the  barn,  an'  the  house,  too!"  added  John 
Smibble. 

The  three  Rover  boys  looked  at  each  other. 
The  same  thought  was  in  the  mind  of  each. 

"Tad  Sobber!"  murmured  Sam. 

"Sure  as  you're  a  foot  high,"  added  Tom. 
"Oh,  what  a  mean  thing  to  do!" 

"He  must  have  watched  what  we  did,  and  then 
planned  to  wreck  the  Dartazvay,"  said  Dick.  "It's 
just  like  his  meanness." 

"Let's  go  down  to  the  old  mill  after  him," 
burst  out  Tom.  "I'd  like  nothing  better  than  to 
wipe  up  the  ground  with  him. "  And  he  clenched 
his  fists  tightly. 

"Humph!  Do  you  think  he'd  show  himself?" 
asked  Sam.  "Not  much!  He'd  hide  where  you 
couldn't  find  him.  Now  he  and  old  Crabtree 
know  we  are  around  they'll  take  good  care  not  to 
get  caught." 

"We  might  burn  down  the  old  mill!"  mur- 
mured Tom.  "It  would  serve  'em  right,  for  all 
their  meanness." 

"Let  it  go,"  was  Dick's  advice.  "Some  day 
we'll  catch  both  of  them  red-handed  at  something, 
and  then  we  can  give  'em  what's  coming  to  'em." 

The  matter  was  talked  over  with  John  Snubble 
and  the  aviator,  and  the  farmer  said  he  would 
keep  on  guard  against  Sobber  and  Crabtree  and 


?6  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

report  to  Dick  if  he  found  out  anything  unusual. 
Then  the  biplane  was  brought  forth,  and  Captain 
Colby  made  an  examination. 

"All  these  breaks  can  easily  be  mended,"  said 
the  aviator.  "We'll  go  to  work  at  once.  Then 
I'll  give  the  Dartaway  a  little  try-out,  and  if  she 
runs  as  she  should  I'll  take  her  back  to  your 
home." 

"Don't  you  want  a  passenger?"  asked  Sam  and 
Tom  in  a  breath. 

"Why,  do  you  want  to  go?" 

"Sure!" 

"I'm  afraid  I'll  have  to  disappoint  you.  I  want 
to  try  the  machine  several  times  before  I  risk 
taking  anybody  up." 

The  Snubble  boys  were  delighted  to  think  they 
could  see  the  Dartaivay  fly  and  they  assisted  the 
others  in  making  the  necessary  repairs.  For  two 
hours  all  were  very  busy  and  then  Captain  Colby 
announced  the  biplane  in  as  good  a  condition  as 
before  the  wild  flight. 

"Now  I'll  give  her  a  short  try-out,"  he  said, 
and  this  was  done.  Up  into  the  air  mounted  the 
Dartaway  as  gracefully  as  a  bird,  and  all  of  the 
boys  clapped  their  hands  in  delight. 
>  "By  gum!  beats  the  nation!"  said  one  of  the 
Snubble  lads. 


TRIAL  FLIGHTS  77 

"It's  grand!  I'm  going  to  save  up  for  one!" 
added  the  other. 

Around  the  field  sailed  Captain  Colby  and  then 
made  the  figure  eight  three  times.  Then  he  came 
down  near  the  spot  from  which  he  had  started. 

"Couldn't  be  better,"  he  declared.  "I  could 
take  her  a  hundred  miles  if  I  wished." 

"Wish  I  could  go  up,"  said  Sam  wistfully. 

"Your  time  will  come  pretty  soon,"  added  the 
aviator.  "The  flight  to  your  home  will  be  a  good 
test." 

A  little  later  the  aviator  arose  again  in  the  air, 
this  time  headed  for  Valley  Brook  farm.  The 
boys  were  also  ready  and  started  off  immediately 
in  the  automobile. 

"Come  again!"  shouted  the  Snubble  boys. 

"We  will,"  answered  Dick.  "Your  field  makes 
a  dandy  landing  place." 

Dick  ran  the  automobile  and  put  on  good  speed 
all  the  way  home.  As  they  went  along  they 
watched  the  flight  of  the  biplane,  but  soon  the 
machine  passed  from  view. 

"She  certainly  can  sail!"  cried  Tom.  "Oh, 
Dick,  we'll  have  to  take  her  to  Brill  with  us!" 

"That's  it!"  cried  Sam.  "What's  the  use  of 
leaving  her  behind?  We  can  sail  after  college 
hours." 

"Yes,  and  think  how  auickly  we  could  get  over 


yS  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

to  Hope  Seminary,"  went  on  Tom.  The  place  he 
mentioned  was  a  young  ladies'  boarding  school 
located  not  many  miles  from  Brill.  Dora  Stan- 
hope went  to  Hope,  and  so  did  the  two  Laning 
girls. 

"We'll  see  about  it,"  replied  Dick,  briefly.  But 
the  idea  of  taking  the  flying  machine  to  Brill 
pleased  him  as  much  as  it  did  his  brothers. 

When  they  got  home  they  found  that  Captain 
Colby  had  already  arrived.  He  and  the  Dartaway 
were  in  the  field  back  of  the  barn,  and  surround- 
ing the  aviator  were  all  the  members  of  the  Rover 
household. 

"Well,  boys,  got  back,  eh?"  cried  Anderson 
Rover,  as  they  rolled  up  in  the  automobile. 

"Hello,  dad!"  came  from  all  three.  And  then 
they  leaped  to  the  ground  to  greet  their  parent. 
All  could  not  help  but  notice  that  he  looked  a 
trifle  pale  and  careworn. 

"Was  your  trip  a  success?"  asked  Dick,  in  a 
low  voice. 

"I  don't  know  yet — I  hope  so,"  answered  the 
father.  "Some  business  matters  have  gotten 
pretty  well  twisted  up.  But  never  mind  now.  I 
see  your  new  machine  can  fly."  And  Anderson 
Rover  smiled. 

"Oh,    she's    a   peach!"    cried    Tom    slangily. 


TRIAL  FLIGHTS  79 

"We  expect  to  have  the  greatest  times  ever  in 

feer!" 

1     "Yes,  but  you  must  learn  all  about  the  biplane 

first,"  added  the  fond  father  anxiously.     "You 

mustn't  think  of  going  up  until  you  are  sure  of< 

what  you  are  doing." 

"Dat  am  suttenly  de  greatest  bird  wot  I  most 
eber  see!"  declared  Aleck  Pop  solemnly.  "If  I 
hadn't  dun  see  it  wid  my  own  eyes  I  wouldn't 
flebber  believe  it  nohow!" 

"That's  a  fact,"  added  Jack  Ness.  "When  the 
boys  go  up  in  it  there  won't  be  no  holdin'  'em  in." 

"We're  going  to  take  you  up,  first  thing,  Jack," 
said  Tom,  with  a  wink  at  his  brothers. 

"Me?  Not  much!"  cried  the  hired  man.  "I 
wasn't  built  to  fly,  not  me!"  And  he  began  to 
back  away  in  alarm. 

After  dinner  Captain  Colby  made  another  trial 
flight,  and  than  gave  the  three  boys  a  lesson  in 
the  manipulation  of  the  biplane,  showing  them 
just  how  to  regulate  the  engine  while  running, 
how  to  balance  the  machine,  how  to  steer,  and 
how  to  make  various  turns. 

"Do  you  ride  bicycles?"  he  asked. 

"We  do,  and  have  for  years,"  answered  Dick. 

"And  do  you  swim?" 

"Of  course,"  came  from  all  of  the  lads. 

"Then  just  remember  how  you  felt  when  you 


80  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

first  tried  to  ride  a  wheel  and  when  you  first  tried 
to  swim.  You  got  excited,  didn't  you?  And 
when  you  thought  the  wheel  was  going  over  you 
gave  it  a  wild  twist  that  did  send  you  over,  and 
when  you  thought  you  were  going  to  drown  you 
thrashed  around  in  a  way  that  only  made  matters 
worse.  Well,  that's  a  lesson  to  remember  in 
running  a  flying  machine.  Don't  get  excited  and 
lose  your  presence  of  mind,  or  it  may  cost  you 
your  life.  Keep  cool,  act  quickly,  but  don't  over- 
do a  thing.  If  the  machine  is  tipping  a  little  to 
one  side,  don't  get  excited  and  throw  it  clean  over 
the  other  way.  And  don't  try  to  make  any  sharp 
turns  until  you  know  your  machine  thoroughly." 

vThen  he  had  them  watch  him  while  making 
several  flights  close  to  the  ground,  and  told  them 
exactly  what  he  was  going  to  do.  This  lasted 
for  two  days. 

"Running  an  auto  and  a  bicycle  will  help  you," 
he  said.  "But  sailing  a  biplane  is,  after  all,  a 
science  in  itself.  But  you'll  learn — I  see  that  by 
the  way  you  take  hold." 

There  had  been  a  slight  breeze  blowing  during 
the  third  afternoon,  but  towards  sunset  this  went 
down,  and  then  the  aviator  said  that  Dick  might 
try  a  short  flight,  over  a  cornfield  that  was  dose 
by. 

"Don't  go  too  high,"  he  cautioned.     "And  if 


TRIAL  FLIGHTS  8l 

you  feel  the  biplane  turning  over  try  to  jump 
clear  of  the  engine,  so  it  can't  crush  you." 

It  must  be  confessed  that  Dick's  heart  beat 
loudly  as  he  took  his  seat  in  the  flying  machine. 
It  was  one  thing  to  talk  about  going  up  and  quitei 
another  to  really  fly.  He  realized  the  danger  far 
more  than  did  merry-hearted  Tom,  or  even  Sam. 
But  he  was  not  going  to  show  the  white  feather. 

The  engine  was  started,  the  others  holding  the 
machine  back.  Dick  grasped  the  steering  wheel 
and  put  his  feet  on  the  pedals. 

"All  ready?"  asked  Captain  Colby. 

"Yes.    Let  go." 

"Now  be  careful.  Take  it  easy, — and  keep 
over  the  cornfield,"  said  the  captain.  "And  if 
you  turn,  make  a  wide  circle."  He  thought  a 
tumble  among  the  corn  might  not  be  as  bad  as 
one  in  an  open  field  where  the  ground  was  hard. 

Those  on  the  ground  let  go,  and  with  a  rush 
and  a  whirr  the  Dartaivay  sped  forward  over  the 
ground.  Then  Dick  shifted  the  elevation  rudder, 
and  up  into  the  air  rushed  the  biplane,  gathering 
ipeed  at  every  revolution  of  the  propellers. 

The  eldest  Rover  boy  was  in  the  air  at  last! 


CHAPTER   IX 

THE  NEW  ARRIVAL 

"SAY,  that's  great!" 

"Be  careful,  Dick!    Don't  try  too  much!" 

"He  made  a  very  good  start,"  came  from  Cap- 
tain Colby,  who  was  watching  the  progress  of  the 
biplane  closely. 

Over  the  cornfield  sailed  the  Dartaway  with 
Dick  Rover  the  sole  occupant.  He  was  up  about 
fifty  feet  in  the  air  and  presently  he  went  still 
higher. 

"He's  making  the  turn!"  cried  Sam.  "Just 
look  at  him  coming  around!" 

"Here  he  comes  back!"  exclaimed  Tom.  "Hur- 
rah !  Who  says  Dick  can't  fly  ?  Why,  he's  fly- 
ing like  a  veteran!" 

i  "Very  good,  so  far,"  murmured  Captain  Colby. 
"If  only  he  keeps  his  wits  about  him  he'll  be  all 
right." 

"Trust  Dick  to  do  that,"  answered  Sam.  "He 
knows  what  he  is  doing,  every  time." 

82 


THE  NEW  ARRIVAL  83 

The  biplane  had  now  reached  a  point  close  to 
where  the  three  stood  in  the  field.  All  expected 
Dick  to  come  down,  but  he  did  not.  Instead,  he 
made  another  graceful  turn  to  the  left,  and  started 
over  the  cornfield  a  second  time. 

"I  wish  the  others  could  see  him,"  murmured 
Tom.  They  had  not  told  the  folks  in  the  house 
about  the  trial  flights  for  fear  of  scaring  them. 
Everybody  thought  the  boys  would  not  try  to  fly 
for  at  least  a  week. 

Four  times  did  Dick  sail  around  the  cornfield, 
the  last  time  making  such  a  wide  circle  that  he 
went  directly  over  the  barn  and  the  wagon  shed. 
Then  he  shut  off  the  engine  and  glided  slowly  to 
earth,  coming  down  in  the  middle  of  the  field  with 
scarcely  a  jar. 

"By  the  great  clam  chowder  of  Pocahontas!" 
cried  Tom,  rushing  up  and  helping  him  out  of  the 
machine.  "Dick,  it  was  fine!  Couldn't  have  been 
better!" 

"It  was  immense!"  put  in  Sam.  "You  made 
the  turns  beautifully." 

i  "It  was  very  well  done,"  added  Captain  Colby. 
e'If  you  do  as  well  in  the  future  you  will  have  no 
cause  to  fear.  As  far  as  you  are  concerned,  I 
reckon  the  worst  is  over." 

"How  did  it  feel  to  be  up  in  the  air?"  queried 
Sam. 


84  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Oh,  I  felt  kind  of  funny  in  my  head  for  a  few 
seconds,"  answered  the  older  brother.  "But  I 
knew  I  had  to  pull  myself  together  and  I  did. 
After  that  it  was  only  a  question  of  watching 
everything  closely."  ; 

"Now  I  guess  it's  my  turn,  isn't  it?"  asked 
Tom,  impatiently. 

"If  you  feel  equal  to  it,"  answered  the  captain. 

"Sure  thing." 

Once  more  the  biplane  was  gotten  ready,  and 
with  another  rush  and  a  whizz  the  Dartaway  shot 
into  the  air.  For  a  moment,  as  the  machine 
wobbled  from  side  to  side,  it  looked  as  if  Torn 
would  have  an  accident,  and  his  brothers  gave  a 
shiver.  But  then  he  managed  to  steady  the  ma- 
chine and  over  the  cornfield  he  flew,  and  around 
in  a  big  circle  twice.  Then  he  made  a  still  larger 
turn,  well  up  in  the  air,  and  in  a  few  seconds 
more  was  sailing  over  the  barn  and  then  over  the 
Rover  home! 

"Gracious,  that's  Tom!"  murmured  Sam, 
"Always  bound  to  go  the  limit!" 

The  noise  of  the  engine  caused  those  in  the 
house  to  rush  out  and  look  at  the  machine. 

"Who  is  running  it,  that  aviator?"  queried 
Mrs.  Rover. 

"No,  it's  Tom,"  replied  her  husband. 
V  "Tom!0  burst  out  Anderson  Rover.     "Impos- 


THE  NEW  ARRIVAL  85 

sible !  Why  he  doesn't  know  enough  about  it  yet. " 

"He'll  be  killed!"  moaned  Mrs.  Rover.  "Oh, 
what  a  daring  boy !"  And  she  began  to  wring  her 
hands  in  despair. 

Over  the  house  flew  the  biplane,  and  then  made 
another  turn  and  came  back.  Then  came  sudden 
silence. 

"Something  is  wrong!"  cried  Anderson  Rover. 
"The  engine  has  stopped  working!" 

"He's  coming  down  like  a  bird!"  exclaimed 
Aleck  Pop.  "Now  jess  to  look  at  dat!" 

As  he  spoke  the  biplane  glided  slowly  to  the 
ground,  landing  near  the  barn.  All  rushed  to  the 
spot.  There  sat  Tom  grinning  broadly. 

"How  was  that?"  he  asked  coolly.  "Wasn't 
that  a  dandy  initial  flight?" 

"Tom!  Tom!  "cried  his  aunt.  "You'll  kill  me 
with  your  daring!  Are  you  hurt?  Did  some- 
thing break?" 

"No,  I'm  not  hurt,  aunty,  and  nothing  broke," 
he  answered.  "Oh,  it  was  immense!  I  could 
have  stayed  up  an  hour  if  I  had  wanted  to." 

"Very  good — very  good  indeed!"  said  Captain 
.Colby.  "You  took  a  risk  in  flying  over  the  house, 
but  as  nothing  went  wrong  we  won't  say  anything 
about  that." 

"Now  it's  my  turn!"  cried  Sam. 

"Has  Dick  been  up?"  queried  his  father. 


86  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Yes,  and  he  made  a  splendid  flight  too,"  an- 
swered Tom.  "Oh,  dad,  your  sons  are  born 
aviators." 

"Perhaps.  But,  Sam,  do  be  careful!  Don't 
try  to  fly  so  high  at  first,"  pleaded  Anderson 
Rover. 

"I'll  be  careful,  dad,"  answered  his  youngest 
offspring. 

All  remained  in  the  field  to  watch  the  flight  of 
the  youngest  Rover.  Sam  was  a  little  pale,  but 
just  as  determined  as  his  brothers  had  been  to 
succeed.  He  looked  over  the  biplane  carefully, 
then  took  his  seat,  and  told  them  to  start  the  pro- 
pellers. 

Once  more  the  Dartaway  arose,  and  as  it  did 
Mrs.  Rover  could  not  repress  a  shudder,  for  Sam 
was  very  dear  to  her,  because  he  was  her  dead 
sister's  youngest  child,  and  she  had  never  had 
any  children  of  her  own. 

But  her  fears  were  groundless,  for  Sam  sailed 
over  the  cornfield  just  as  well  as  had  Dick.  He 
did  not  fly  very  high,  but  he  kept  in  the  air  nearly 
ten  minutes,  which  was  longer  than  had  either  of  I 
the  others.  When  he  came  down  he  did  so  with 
a  little  bump,  but  this  was  not  enough  to  hurt  any- 
thing. 

"It's  the  best  ever!"  was  Sam's  comment,  when 


THE  NEW  ARRIVAL  87 

the  others  gathered  around.  "Beats  autoing  all 
hollow!" 

"Wasn't  you  scared,  Massa  Sam?"  asked  Aleck, 
who  had  watched  the  flight  with  wildly-rolling 
eyes. 

"Not  in  the  least,  Aleck,  after  once  I  got 
started.  Just  when  I  went  up  I  had  a  little  chill 
down  my  backbone,  that's  all." 

"Glory  to  heaben!  Say,  yo'  know  wot  I  think? 
I  think  dare  ain't  nuffin  wot  you  Rober  boys  can't 
natually  do,  dat's  wot!"  And  with  this  comment 
Aleck  shuffled  off  to  his  work. 

"Every  one  of  you  did  well,"  was  Captain 
Colby's  comment.  He  turned  to  Anderson  Rover. 
"You  can  be  proud  of  your  sons,  sir.  They 
handled  the  machine  in  splendid  shape." 

"Yes,  but  I  want  you  to  watch  them  closely, 
Captain,"  answered  Mr.  Rover.  "Teach  them  all 
there  is  to  know." 

"I'll  teach  them  all  I  know  myself,"  answered 
the  aviator. 

That  evening  the  boys  could  talk  of  nothing 
.but  aviation,  and  many  were  their  plans  for  flights 
in  the  Dartaway.  All  wanted  Captain  Colby  to 
tell  them  if  the  biplane  could  carry  three  persons. 

"I  hardly  think  so,"  answered  the  aviator.  "It 
will  carry  two,  though,  that  I  am  sure  of." 


88 

"Well,  if  it  will  carry  two  men  it  ought  to  carrj 
three  boys,"  insisted  Sam. 

"The  best  way  to  find  out  is  to  try  it,"  went 
on  the  captain.  "So  long  as  you  run  with  care, 
nothing  can  happen  to  you  because  of  the  extra 
load.  Of  course  if  the  weight  is  too  heavy  the 
biplane  won't  go  up,  or  if  it  does,  it  won't  stay 
up." 

The  following  day  came  a  telegraph  message 
from  one  of  the  old  Putnam  Hall  pupils,  Hans 
Mueller.  He  sent  word  that  he  would  be  in  that 
vicinity  and  would  call  on  the  Rovers. 

"Good  for  Hans!"  cried  Tom,  who  scerrted 
fun.  "Maybe  we  can  take  him  up  in  the  Dart- 
away/' 

"Hans  would  be  scared  stiff,"  returned  Dick. 

"It  would  take  all  the  starch  out  of  him,"  said 
Sam. 

"In  that  case,  how  could  he  be  scared  stiff?" 
asked  Tom,  dryly. 

It  was  arranged  that  Sam  should  run  down  to 
the  depot  with  the  auto  for  the  German  youth. 
In  the  meantime  Captain  Colby  and  the  other 
boys  got  out  the  Dartaway  and  prepared  for  more 
trial  flights.  Then  Dick  went  up  and  remained 
in  the  air  for  twelve  minutes,  making  a  number 
of  turns  that  were  very  graceful,  and  taking  a 
little  trip  over  the  woods  back  of  the  farm. 


THE  NEW  ARRIVAL  8g 

"It's  a  sport  that  can't  be  beat,  Tom,"  he  said, 
on  coming  down.  "I  believe  everybody  will  be 
getting  a  flying  machine  before  long — just  as  folks 
have  been  getting  autos." 

|  The  supply  of  gasoline  had  been  replenished 
and  the  lubricating  oil  renewed,  and  then  Tom 
went  up.  He  flew  around  the  cornfield  twice, 
then  headed  in  the  direction  of  Oak  Run. 

"I  guess  he  has  gone  off  to  meet  Sam  and 
Hans,"  said  Dick.  "I  heard  the  train  go  through 
and  they  must  be  on  the  way  here  by  now." 

"Your  brother  certainly  takes  chances,"  replied 
Captain  Colby. 

"He  always  did.  Tom  acts  first  and  think? 
afterwards, — but  he  usually  comes  out  on  top," 
added  Dick,  loyally. 

In  the  meantime  Sam  had  reached  the  depot  at 
Oak  Run  just  as  the  train  came  in.  He  imme- 
diately espied  Hans  Mueller,  dress-suit  case  in 
hand,  and  ran  to  meet  him. 

"Hello,  Hans,  old  boy!"  he  exclaimed.  "Glad 
to  see  you."  And  he  shook  hands  cordially. 

"Is  dot  you,  Sam?"  replied  the  German  youth, 
iwho,  although  he  had  been  in  this  country  quite 
some  time,  still  found  a  difficulty  in  mastering  the 
language.  "I  vos  certainly  glad  to  meet  you. 
How  vas  der  udder  poys?" 

"Oh,   Tom   and   Dick   are  first   rate.     They 


90  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

couldn't  come  down  just  now,  for  they  are  busy 
with  our  new  biplane." 

"A  biplane,  eh?  Vot  is  dot,  some  kind  of  a 
sawmill  alretty?" 

"No,  Hans,  a  flying  machine.  Hop  in,  and 
you'll  soon  be  at  the  farm  and  then  you  can  look 
it  over."  And  Sam  led  the  way  to  the  automo- 
bile, threw  the  dress-suit  case  in  the  tonneau,  and 
assisted  the  German  youth  to  a  seat  in  front. 

"A  flying  machine !"  cried  Hans,  as  they  started 
off.  "By  chimanatics!  Vot  you  poys  going  to 
git  next?" 

"I  don't  know." 

"First  you  get  a  houseboat,  den  an  autermobile, 
den  a  steam  yachts,  und  bicycles,  und  now  it  vos 
a  flying  machine.  Vot  you  do  mid  him,  Sam?" 

"We  are  learning  to  fly." 

"Vot!  you  going  up  by  der  sky  in  him?"  cried 
the  German  youth,  aghast. 

"Of  course — and  you  can  go  up  with  us  too." 

"Me?  Me  go  up  in  a  airship?  Not  on  your 
neckties,  Sam  Rof er !  I  got  too  much  regart  for 
my  neck  alretty  yet!  Ven  I  fly  I  valk  on  der 
groundt  und  do  it,  yah!" 

"Oh,  it's  dead  easy  when  you  know  how, 
Hans." 

"Dead,  hey?  Chust  vot  I  dink,  Sam— put  I 
iton't  vonts  to  pe  dead,  not  chust  yet!" 


THE  NEW  ARRIVAL  g{ 

They  soon  passed  over  the  Swift  River  and 
through  Dexter's  Corners  and  came  out  on  the 
highway  leading  to  the  farm.  Looking  up  into 
the  sky,  Hans  suddenly  saw  something  unusual 
approaching. 

"Look,  look,  Sam !"  he  bawled.    "Vot  is  dot?" 

"Oh,  that  must  be  our  biplane!"  answered  Sam. 
"Yes,  it  is!  Dick  or  Tom  must  be  running  it. 
Isn't  it  great,  Hans?" 

"Du  tnelne  zeit!"  groaned  the  German  youth. 
"Of  Dick  or  Dom  be  in  dot  he  preaks  his  neck 
sure!  Tole  him  to  come  town,  Sam!" 

Sam  did  not  answer,  but  slowed  up  the  auto- 
mobile, to  better  watch  the  flight  of  the  biplane. 
Tom  was  making  a  graceful  curve,  so  that  he 
might  pass  directly  over  the  machine  below. 

"Hello,  Hans!"  he  cried  gaily,  and  waved  his 
hand,  for  the  noise  of  the  engine  drowned  out 
his  oral  salute.  Then  with  a  rush  the  biplane 
sailed  directly  over  the  automobile. 

"Sthop !  Ton't  hit  me !"  yelled  poor  Hans,  and 
badly  frightened  he  ducked  his  head,  although 
the  flying  machine  was  fully  twenty-five  feet 
above  him. 

Then  Tom  made  another  wide  circle  and  again 
approached  the  automobile.  But  this  time  he  was 
sailing  lower,  and  even  Sam  grew  uneasy. 

"Go  up!"  he  yelled  to  his  brother,  and  Ton* 


92  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

tried  to  obey.  But  for  some  reason,  the  biplant 
refused  to  respond  to  the  rudder,  3.n£  with  a  rush 
and  a  roar  it  came  directly  for  the  automobile  and 
.its  occupants! 


CHAPTER  X 

FUN  WITH  OU>  RICKS 

IT  WAS  a  moment  of  extreme  peril.  Sam 
brought  the  automobile  to  a  stop.  Had  the  road- 
way been  wider  he  might  have  sheered  to  one 
side,  but  the  highway  was  too  narrow  for  that, 
and  with  a  ditch  on  either  side,  to  carry  off  rain 
water,  he  did  not  want  to  take  a  chance  of  going 
over. 

"Go  pack!  Go  pack!"  shrieked  Hans  Mueller. 
He  was  crouching  down,  looking  with  staring 
eyes  through  the  lowered  wind  shield  of  the 
touring  car. 

Suddenly  Sam  acted.  While  the  biplane  was 
still  a  hundred  feet  away  he  threw  his  lever  into 
the  reverse  and  allowed  the  gears  to  connect  with 
the  engine.  Then  the  automobile  began  to  move 
backwards,  slowly  at  first  and  then  faster  and 
faster,  as  the  youngest  Rover  put  on  the  power. 

"He's  coming!  He's  coming!  Ve  peen  busted 
up  in  a  minit!"  roared  Hans,  who  was  shaking  as 

93 


94  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

with  the  ague.  "Oh,  vy  tidn't  I  sthay  home  ven 
I  come  to  pay  dis  visit!" 

The  biplane  had  slowed  down,  for  Tom  had 
shut  off  the  engine.  But  the  Dartau'ay  still  had 
headway  enough  to  catch  up  to  the  automobile 
and  it  came  up  like  some  bird  of  ill-omen,  that 
made  even  stout-hearted  Sam  quail.  But  he  stuck 
to  his  post,  sending  the  automobile  backward  as 
fast  as  he  dared.  He  knew  the  roadway  behind 
was  straight,  so  he  simply  steered  by  keeping  the 
wheel  as  it  was. 

"Tom,  Tom,  can't  you  do  something?"  he 
yelled.  "Turn  her  aside!" 

"I'm  trying!"  yelled  back  his  brother.  "The 
steering  outfit  is  jammed!" 

Backward  went  the  automobile  and  on  and  on 
came  the  big  biplane,  until  the  forward  part  of 
the  machine  was  almost  over  the  hood  of  the  tour- 
ing car. 

"Maybe  you  had  better  jump  out!"  cried  Sam 
to  Hans. 

But  even  as  he  spoke  there  came  a  sudden  snap 
from  the  flying  machine.  A  caught  wire  had 
released  itself.  At  once  the  biplane  could  be 
steered  again,  and  with  a  dexterous  twist  of  the 
wheel  and  a  deflection  of  one  of  the  tips,  Tom 
brought  it  around.  Over  a  rail  fence  it  sailed,  to 


FUN   WITH  OLD  RICKS  95 

land  gracefully  in  the  open  field  beyond.  Then 
Sam  stopped  the  automobile. 

"Well!"  came  from  the  youngest  Rover.  And 
that  single  word  meant  a  good  deal. 

"Hope  I  didn't  scare  you  to  death,"  sang  out 
Tom,  as  he  climbed  from  his  seat.  "Hans,  did 
you  get  heart  failure?" 

"Oh,  Dom!  Dom !  vot  for  you  do  him?"  asked 
the  German  youth,  in  a  voice  he  tried  in  vain  to 
steady.  "I  dink  sure  you  vos  going  to  cut  off  our 
heads  off  alretty!" 

"It  was  the  steering  outfit  did  it,"  explained 
Tom.  "I'm  awfully  sorry  I  scared  you.  I  was 
scared  myself.  I  was  going  to  fly  over  you  and 
then  go  back  when  all  at  once  I  found  I  couldn't 
budge  the  rudders.  Then  I  got  alarmed,  thinking 
the  machine  might  turn  turtle  on  me,  so  I  shut 
off  the  engine,  intending  to  glide  to  earth.  But 
I  didn't  want  to  glide  right  into  the  auto.  Sam, 
it's  a  good  thing  you  thought  to  run  backwards. 
If  you  hadn't  there  would  have  been  a  smash-up 
sure!" 

"So  dot  is  der  new  flying  machine,"  remarked 
Hans,  as  he  walked  into  the  field  to  inspect  the 
Dartarvay.  "Mine  gracious!  she  vos  almost  so 
pig  like  a  house!" 

"Want  to  go  up,  Hansy,  old  boy?"  queried 
Tom. 


96  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Not  for  a  dousand  tollers,  Dom !  No,  not  fot 
a  million!" 

"You'll  like  it,  Hans,  when  you  get  used  to  it." 
\  "No,  sir;  nixy!"  returned  the  German  youth 
(firmly.  "I  sthay  py  der  ground  on.  You  fellers 
can  fly  und  I  vatch  you,  yah !" 

"How  are  you  going  to  get  the  machine  back?" 
asked  Sam. 

"Sail  her  back,"  answered  his  brother  promptly. 
"But  I'll  have  to  look  at  that  steering  apparatus 
first — and  you'll  have  to  help  me  start." 

"Better  let  Captain  Colby  inspect  it  first,"  ad- 
vised Sam. 

But  Tom  did  not  want  to  wait,  and  so  he  and 
his  brother  looked  over  the  flying  machine  and 
soon  found  out  what  had  gone  wrong,  and  fixed 
it,  so  that  the  same  accident  might  not  occur 
again.  Then  Tom  got  in,  and  Sam  and  Hans 
started  the  propellers,  and  away  sailed  the  youth 
in  a  manner  that  made  the  German  lad  stare  in 
amazement 

''Dot's  fine!"  was  Hans's  comment.  "Say, 
Dom,  he  peen  a  regular  aviadventurer,  hey?" 

'* What's  that,  Hans?" 

"Dom,  he  peen  a  regular  aviadventurer,  or  vot 
you  call  him?" 

"Oh,  you  mean  aviator." 

'"'Yah,  dot's  him.    He  peen  von  sure!" 


FUN   WITH  OLD  RICKS 


97 


"Your  word  was  O.  K.,  Hans,"  was  Sam's 
comment.  "Tom  is  certainly  an  air  adventurer!" 

The  two  boys  got  into  the  automobile  once 
more  and  were  soon  at  the  Rover  homestead, 
where  Hans  was  warmly  greeted  by  the  others, 
all  but  Captain  Colby  knowing  him  well.  Tom 
had  already  arrived  and  the  captain  was  inspect-, 
ing  the  biplane  with  care. 

"Such  things  will  happen,  especially  with  a  new 
and  stiff  machine,"  said  the  old  aviator.  "All 
you  can  do  is  to  watch  out,  and  look  over  the 
machine  with  care  every  time  you  plan  a  flight." 

Hans  had  much  news  of  interest  to  tell  about 
the  boys  who  were  still  at  Putnam  Hall  and  about 
Captain  Putnam  and  George  Strong,  the  head 
teacher.  He  had  also  seen  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Laning, 
the  parents  of  Nellie  and  Grace,  and  had  heard 
something  of  the  latest  trouble  with  Tad  Sobber 
and  Josiah  Crabtree. 

"Vy  ton't  you  got  dem  arrested?"  he  asked, 
when  he  was  told  that  the  evil-disposed  pair  were 
in  that  vicinity. 

"We  don't  want  the  notoriety,"  said  Dick.  "If 
we  had  them  locked  up  they'd  be  sure  to  drag 
Mrs.  Stanhope  and  the  girls  into  court.  We  are 
willing  to  let  them  alone  if  they  will  only  let  us 
alone." 

Captain  Colby  remained  at  the  farm  a  week 


98  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

and  during  that  time  gave  the  Rover  bays  as  much 
instruction  as  possible  in  the  art  of  flying  in  gen- 
eral and  the  art  of  managing  the  biplane  in  par- 
ticular. He  had  brought  with  him  several  books 
on  flying  and  recommended  that  these  be  read 
carefully. 

"You  all  seem  to  take  to  it  naturally,"  he  said. 
"I  don't  believe  you'll  have  any  trouble  excepting 
on  rare  occasions — and  every  person  who  goes  up 
is  bound  to  have  that." 

After  the  captain  left  the  boys  took  several 
flights,  some  of  them  quite  long.  They  sailed 
over  Dexter's  Corners  and  the  railroad  station  of 
Oak  Run,  and  at  the  latter  place  nearly  scared 
old  Ricks,  the  stationmaster,  into  a  fit,  by  swoop- 
ing down  close  to  where  he  was  standing.  Dick 
also  made  a  flight  to  the  Marley  place,  and  visited 
the  Snubble  homestead. 

"What  did  you  find  out?"  asked  Sam,  when 
he  came  back  from  the  last-named  trip. 

"Sobber  and  Crabtree  have  left  the  old  mill/' 
answered  Dick.  "The  Snubble  boys  were  over 
there  twice  and  they  couldn't  see  a  sign  of  any- 
body." 

"Have  they  any  idea  where  they  went  to?" 
Basked  Tom. 

"No.  They  said  Crabtree  sold  the  mill  prop- 
erty." 


FUN   WITH  OLD  RICKS  99 

"Besser  you  look  out  for  dem  scalavags,"  was 
the  advire  from  Hans.  "I  vouldn't  drust  dem  mit 
tnine  eyes  open  alretty!" 

"Oh,  we're  on  the  watch!"  declared  Tom. 

The  next  day  the  German  youth  had  to  leave, 

jid  all  the  boys  went  down  to  the  railroad  station 

*n  the  touring  car  to  see  him  off.    Old  Ricks  was 

there  and  he  glared  souring  at  the  Rovers  when 

he  saw  them. 

"I  guess  he  didn't  like  that  flying  affair,"  was 
Sam's  comment. 

"Oh,  he's  thinking  of  the  time  Tom  put  the  can- 
non cracker  in  the  bonfire  and  made  him  think 
some  dynamite  had  gone  off,"  returned  Dick,  with 
a  grin. 

"Or  the  time  Tom  gave  him  the  cigar  that 
turned  into  a  snake!"  went  on  Sam,  with  a  laugh. 

"Get  out  of  the  way!  Get  out  of  the  way,  you 
boys!"  cried  the  old  stationmaster,  as  he  brushed 
past,  hitting  Tom  in  the  knee  with  a  suit  case  he 
was  carrying.  The  train  that  carried  Hans  had 
rolled  away,  leaving  Ricks  and  the  Rovers  alone 
on  the  little  platform. 

"Why,  Mr.  Ricks,  what's  your  rush?"  asked 
Tom,  sweetly.  "Going  to  a  wedding?" 

"No,  I  ain't  going  to  no  wedding!"  grunted  old 
Ricks.  "I  don't  want  you  young  fellers  to  git 
in  my  way,  that's  all." 


100  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Maybe  you  have  to  testify  in  that  case  in 
court,**  went  on  Tom,  with  a  wink  at  his  brother. 

"Ain't  got  to  testify  in  no  court." 

"Why,  you're  in  that  case — I  read  all  about  it 
in  the  papers!"  cried  Tom. 

"Me  in  a  case  in  court?"  asked  old  Ricks,  sus- 
piciously. 

"Sure.  It  was  a  terrible  trouble,  wasn't  it?" 
went  on  Tom.  "I  am  mighty  sorry  for  you,  really 
I  am,  Mr.  Ricks." 

Now  as  it  chanced,  Mr.  Ricks  had  had  some 
trouble  with  a  neighbor  over  a  fence  that  had 
blown  down  between  the  two  properties.  The 
neighbor  had  threatened  to  sue  him  if  he  did  not 
put  the  fence  up  again.  The  Rovers  knew  nothing 
about  this,  but  it  had  been  in  old  Ricks's  mind  for 
a  week. 

"If  anybody  sues  me  he'll  git  the  wust  of  it!" 
growled  the  stationmaster  savagely. 

"It's  a  terrible  mess,  that's  a  fact,"  went  on 
Tom.  "The  papers  said  he  had  threatened  to  get 
after  you  with  a  shotgun!" 

"A  shotgun  ?  After  me  ?"  exclaimed  old  Ricks, 
and  turned  slightly  pale. 

"And  they  say  you  poisoned  the  cat,"  put  it* 
Dick. 

"And  caught  the  dog  and  starved  the  poor  ani» 
mal  to  death,"  added  Sam. 


FUN  WITH  OLD  RICKS  xoi 

"It  ain't  so — I  never  teched  his  cat,  nor  his 
dog  nuther!"  roared  old  Ricks.  "He's  a  blamed 
fool,  he  is!" 

"Hush!    hush!"    whispered    Tom,    solemnly. 
"Don't  speak  so  harshly  of  the  dead." 
1     "Dead!  "exclaimed  the  startled  Ricks.    "Who's 
dead?" 

"Didn't  you  know  he  was  found  on  the  rail- 
road tracks  dead?"  asked  the  fun-loving  Rover. 
"Of  course  they  say  you  let  the  freight  train  run 
over  him.  But  we  know  you  wouldn't  be  so 
wicked,  Mr.  Ricks." 

"Dead?  On  the  tracks?  Me  let  the  train  run 
over  him?"  half-whispered  the  stationmaster.  "I 
^1 — didn't  do  it !  Say,  this  is  awful !  Who  told 
you  this?" 

"Haven't  you  read  the  newspapers?"  asked 
Dick. 

"That  comes  for  being  too  stingy  to  buy  a 
morning  paper,"  added  Sam. 

"Of  course  the  local  papers  didn't  dare  to  print 
the  truth,"  said  Tom.  "But  you'll  find  a  full  ac- 
count in  the  New  York  Blizzard  and  the  Phila- 
delphia Bazoo.  Your  picture  on  the  front  page, 
too,  entitled,  'Did  He  Do  It,  or  Did  He  Did  It 
Not.'  " 

"Say,  I  ain't  done  nuthin',  I  tell  ye!"  almost 
shouted  old  Ricks,  who  was  too  excited  to  realize 


102  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

that  the  boys  were  making  fun  of  him.  "If  them 
blamed  city  newspapers  say  I  did  I'll  sue  'em  fer 
damages,  that's  wot  I'll  do.  I  ain't  teched  Ham 
Ludd,  nor  his  cat,  nor  his  dog  nuther!  And  it 
was  the  wind  blew  the  fence  do.wn,  I  didn't  tech 
that  nuther!"  He  paused  to  catch  his  breath. 
"Where  was  Ham  killed?  I  didn't  hear  of  any- 
buddy  gitting  struck  by  a  train." 

"Oh,  I  don't  know  who  the  man  was,  or  where 
he  was  struck,"  answered  Tom,  as  he  started  to 
walk  away.  "But  they  are  after  you,  Mr.  Ricks. 
If  I  was  you,  I'd  pack  my  valise  and  hike  for  Cali- 
fornia, or  Sing  Sing,  or  some  other  place." 

"I  ain't  going  to  run  away,  Tom  Rover,  and 
you  can't  make  me,"  was  the  wild  reply.  "I  ain't 
teched  Ham,  nor  his  cat,  nor  his  dog,  nor  the 
fence  nuther,  I  tell  ye!  It's  an  outrage  to  say  so! 
I'll  sue  them  newspapers  fer  a  million  dollars 
damages!" 

"I'd  make  it  two  millions,"  answered  Tom, 
calmly,  and  then  started  for  the  automobile,  fol- 
lowed by  his  brothers. 

"But  see  here,"  went  on  the  stationmaster.  "I 
want  to  know " 

"Sorry,  but  we  haven't  time  now,"  put  in  Dkk. 
"Hurry,  Tom!"  he  whispered. 

"It's  Ham  Ludd  coming!"  added  Sam.  "Let's 
get  out — before  the  fat's  in  the  fire!" 


FUN  WITH  OLD  RICKS  103 

And  off  the  three  Rover  boys  ran  to  the  auto- 
mobile and  were  soon  rolling  away  from  the  rail- 
road station.  But  they  did  not  go  far. 

"I'm  going  back  and  watch  the  fun,"  said  Tom, 
•and  leaped  out,  and  ran  up  behind  the  station, 
Awhile  his  brothers  followed  htm. 


CHAPTER  XI 

FOR   BRIIJ, 


old  Ricks  saw  his  neighbor  approach- 
ing he  could  not  at  first  believe  his  eyes.  Then 
he  ran  up  to  the  man,  who  was  a  particularly  sour 
individual. 

"Say,  I  thought  you  was  dead,"  he  gasped. 

"Dead?"  returned  Ham  Ludd.  "Do  I  look 
like  I  was  dead?"  And  he  glared  savagely  at 
Ricks.  "I  ain't  dead,  not  by  a  jugful!" 

"Humph  !  Well,  if  you  ain't  dead,  mebbe  you'll 
explain  about  that  cat,  an'  dog,"  went  on  old 
Ricks. 

"Wot  about  'em?" 

"You  told  folks  I  poisoned  the  cat  and  starved 
the  dog  to  death." 

"I  did  not." 

"You  did  —  it  was  in  the  newspapers!"  bawled 
old  Ricks,  commencing  to  dance  around. 

"I  didn't!  Where's  them  newspapers?"  asked 
Harn  Ludd,  also  growing  excited. 

104 


OFF  FOR  BRILL  COLLEGE 


"I  ain't  got  'em,  but  Tom  Rover  said- 


105 


And  then  suddenly  old  Ricks  stopped  short. 
He  was  commencing  to  "smell  a  mouse,"  as  the 
saying  is. 

"Wot  did  Tom  Rover  say?"  demanded  Ham 
Ludd. 

"Never  mind  wot  he  said,"  grumbled  the  sta- 
tionmaster.  "Only  you  be  careful  o'  wot  you  say 
about  me  in  the  future,  Ham  Ludd,  thet's  all!" 

"Huh !  I  guess  that  Rover  boy  has  been  a'jokin* 
you  ag'in,  Ricky,"  said  Ludd,  with  a  grin.  "How 
about  thet  busted-up  bonfire,  an'  that  snaky  cigar  ? 
Ha!  ha!  he  had  you  them  times,  didn't  he?" 

"You  shet  up,  Ham  Ludd!"  roared  the  station- 
master.  "Don't  you  say  another  word!" 

"I'll  say  all  I  please!  An'  you'll  put  up  that 
fence,  too,  or  I'll  have  the  law  on  ye!"  retorted 
Ham  Ludd ;  and  then  went  on  his  way. 

"Hang  them  Rover  boys  anyway!"  muttered 
old  Ricks,  as  he  gritted  his  teeth.  "I'll  be  glad 
when  they  go  off  to  college  ag'in.  Wish  they 
would  stay  away!"  And  he  went  about  his  work. 

"Ricks  and  Ludd  will  have  it  in  for  each  other 
from  now  on,"  remarked  Dick,  as  he  and  his 
'brothers  got  into  the  automobile  to  go  home. 

"Yes,  and  he'll  have  it  in  for  us — me  especial- 
ly," returned  Tom,  with  a  broad  grin.  "Never 
mind;  I  can  stand  it,"  he  added,  carekssly. 


106  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

Troubles,  past  or  to  come,  never  set  heavily  on 
that  fun-loving  youth's  shoulders. 

The  boys  had  given  the  biplane  one  trial  in 
carrying  two  passengers,  Dick  and  Sam  going  up 
together  while  Captain  Colby  was  present.  On 
the  day  following  the  departure  of  Hans,  they  re- 
arranged the  seats  on  the  Dartaway  and  got  ready 
to  go  up  three  strong,  provided  the  biplane  would 
carry  the  load. 

"I  know  she  will  do  it  if  we  get  a  more  power- 
ful engine,"  said  Dick. 

"Then  we'll  get  the  engine,"  returned  Sam. 

They  made  the  start  with  care,  all  the  others 
at  the  homestead  being  present  to  witness  the 
trial.  The  Dartaway  went  up  slowly,  with  Dick 
in  the  center,  at  the  wheel,  and  Sam  on  one  side 
of  him  and  Tom  on  the  other. 

""Hurrah !  we  are  going  to  make  it !"  cried  Tom, 
as  the  biplane  arose  like  some  big  bird. 

"It's  a  strain  though,"  answered  Dick.  "We 
won't  be  able  to  fly  very  high  nor  very  long." 

"But  it's  great  to  be  up  together!"  murmured 
Sam. 

They  flew  for  nearly  ten  minutes,  making  wide 
circles  and  a  big  figure  eight.  They  went  over 
the  house  and  the  barn,  and  in  plain  sight  of  sev- 
eral surrounding  farms,  men,  women  and  children 


OFF  FOR  BRILL   COLLEGE  107 

coming  out  to  look  at  them.  Once  more  the  Rover 
boys  were  the  talk  of  the  whole  country-side. 

"Ain't  nothing  they  can't  do,"  said  one  of  the 
farmers  living  near.  "If  they  tackle  a  thing  it's 
plumb  bound  to  go  through,  every  time!" 

"It's  because  they  are  so  full  of  grit  and  push," 
answered  his  wife.  "Wish  our  Jed  was  like  'em," 
she  added,  wistfully. 

"Jed  ain't  never  had  no  chanct,  Mirandy." 

"Boys  like  them  Rovers  make  their  own 
chances,  Silas,"  she  retorted. 

That  evening  it  was  Tom  who  made  a  proposal 
that  met  with  instant  approval  from  his  brothers. 

"Let  s  go  to  the  college  in  the  biplane,"  he  said. 

"Hurrah!  just  the  cream!"  returned  Sam. 
"Say,  won't  the  fellows  stare  when  they  see  us!" 

"Very  nice,  but  we  can't  very  well  fly  all  the 
way  from  here  to  Ashton,"  put  in  Dick,  mention- 
ing the  town  near  which  Brill  College  was  lo- 
cated. 

"Oh,  I  didn't  mean  that,"  explained  Tom.  "I 
meant  to  fly  from  Ashton  to  Brill.  We  could  ship 
the  biplane  to  Ashton  in  secret,  put  it  together  on 
the  sly,  and  create  a  big  sensation  by  coming  down 
right  on  the  college  campus." 

"Tom,  you're  a  wonder!"  cried  Sam,  "It's 
the  best  plan  ever !  Oh,  let's  do  it !" 

"Wonder  where  we  could  ship  it  to,  so  the  other 


508  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

fellows  wouldn't  get  on  to  what  was  doing?" 
mused  Dick. 

"Why  not  ship  it  to  Mr.  Sanderson?"  suggested 
.Sam.  The  man  he  mentioned  was  a  farmer  living 
'some  distance  from  the  college.  The  boys  had 
'once  done  the  farmer's  daughter  Minnie  a  great 
favor,  saving  her  from  insults  at  the  hands  of 
Jerry  Koswell  and  Dudd  Flockley. 

"That's  the  talk !"  cried  Tom.  "He'll  take  car* 
of  it  and  let  us  put  it  together  in  one  of  his  open 
fields.  Then  we  can  make  the  fellows  at  Brill  open 
their  eyes." 

The  new  idea  pleased  all  the  youths  immensely, 
and  the  next  day  a  long  letter  of  explanation  was 
sent  to  Mr.  Sanderson,  and  he  was  asked  to  tele- 
graph a  reply.  The  biplane  was  taken  apart  and 
packed  up  for  transportation,  and  then  the  boys 
packed  their  trunks  and  dress-suit  cases,  and  got 
ready  to  "go  back  to  the  greasy  grind,"  as  Tom 
expressed  it. 

It  must  not  be  suppposed  that  the  lads  had  for* 
gotten  to  write  to  the  Stanhopes  and  the  Lanings, 
and  to  their  college  friends.  Numerous  letters 
'had  been  mailed  and  about  an  equal  number  had 
been  received.  The  girls  were  all  going  to  Hope, 
but  one  week  later  than  the  boys  would  have  to 
depart  for  Brill.  Nothing  more  had  been  seto 


OFF  FOR  BRILL  COLLEGE  109 

or  heard  of  Crabtree  or  Sobber,  for  which  all  were 
thankful. 

"Here's  a  letter  from  William  Philander 
Tubbs,"  said  Tom.  "I  sent  him  a  letter  just  for 
fun,  asking  him  the  style  in  socks  this  fall.  Listen 
to  his  reply."  And  he  read  the  following: 

"I  have  been  making  diligent  inquiries  about 
the  shades  in  socks,  my  dearest  Thomas,  but  the 
storekeepers  seem  to  be  a  little  undecided.  Some 
think  that  Rambler  Red  will  prevail  while  others 
favor  Nile  Green  and  a  new  shade  called  Baby's 
Breath.  Personally  I  favor  Baby's  Breath  and 
have  purchased  one  dozen  of  that  shade.  If  I 
get  any  more  definite  news  about  shades  I  will 
wire  you,  because  I  know  what  a  dreadful  thing 
it  is  not  to  have  the  shade  that  is  really  and  truly 
fashionable." 

"Three  cheers  for  William  Philander  and  his 
Baby's  Breath  socks!"  cried  Sam.  "He's  the  true 
and  only  artist!" 

"Baby's  Breath!"  murmured  Tom.  "Now 
wouldn't  that  get  your  scalp-lock?"  And  then 
there  was  a  merry  laugh  all  around. 

There  was  likewise  a  letter  from  Max  Spangler, 
and  another  from  Stanley  Browne,  stating  they 
were  already  on  their  way  to  Brill.  Then,  just 


HO  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

before  the  boys  were  ready  to  leave  home,  came 
a  letter  from  Songbird  Powell. 

"I'll  bet  it's  in  verse,"  said  Dick.  "Songbird 
couldn't  write  prose  to  save  his  life." 

"We'll  soon  see,"  said  Sam,  who  held  the  com- 
munication, and  he  tore  it  open.  "You  win,"  he 
added,  and  then  read  the  following,  after  the  date 
line: 

"My  dearest  boys 
I'm  filled  with  joys 
To  think  that  we 
Together  shall  be 
In  a  week  or  more! 
Oh,  the  fun  in  store! 
And  also  the  work — 
Which  we  can't  shirk — 
And  the  pleasant  meetings, 
And  pleasant  greetings, " 

"He  was  thinking  of  Minnie  Sanderson  when 
he  wrote  that,"  interrupted  Tom. 

"Sure  thing,"  returned  Dick;  for  all  of  the 
Rovers  knew  that  the  would-be  poet  was  deeply 
smitten  with  the  farmer's  daughter.  He  had  writ- 
ten several  poems  about  her,  and  had  also  given 
her  several  presents. 

"Well,  there  are  twelve  pages  of  the  doggerel," 
said  Sam,  glancing  over  the  sheets.  "Here,  you 
can  read  over  my  shoulders,"  and  this  was  done, 
amid  much  merriment.  Songbird  had  but  littl* 


OFF  FOR  BRILL  COLLEGE  m 

news  and  promised  to  be  at  college  when  they  ar- 
rived. 

"Oh,  I  hope  the  Dartaivay  carries  us  there  in 
good  shape,"  murmured  Tom.  "It  will  be  an 
arrival  worth  remembering!" 

Before  he  left  home  Dick  had  a  long  talk  with 
his  father  and  his  Uncle  Randolph.  When  he  re- 
joined his  brothers  he  was  unusually  sober. 

"What  is  it,  dad's  business  affairs?"  queried 
Sam. 

"Yes,  Sam." 

"Are  they  in  bad  shape?"  questioned  Tom, 
quickly.  "What's  gone  wrong?" 

"It's  something  about  those  mining  shares  that 
dad  and  Uncle  Randolph  invested  in,"  answered 
Dick.  "I'll  give  you  the  particulars  later.  They 
don't  want  Aunt  Martha  to  know  about  it,  for 
it  will  only  make  her  worry  without  doing  any 
good.  I'm  afraid  dad  and  Uncle  Randolph  are 
in  it  bad,"  went  on  Dick,  soberly. 

"Can't  something  be  done?"  asked  Tom. 

"Not  just  now.  Dad  is  going  to  Chicago  about 
it  next  week  again." 

"Does  he  and  uncle  stand  to  lose  much?"  ques- 
tioned Sam. 

"Yes,  a  good  deal — more  in  fact  than  they  can 
afford/' 

"Phew!      That's    too   bad!"    murmured    the 


112  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

youngest  Rover,  and  Tom  shook  his  head  soberly% 
and  forgot  all  about  the  parting  jokes  he  had  in- 
tended to  play  on  Aleck  Pop  and  Jack  Ness. 

At  last  came  the  time  for  the  three  Rover  boy* 
£o  leave  home.  The  biplane  had  been  shipped  to 
Ashton  by  express  and  their  trunks  and  suit  cases 
had  been  forwarded  on  their  railroad  tickets. 
They  were  going  a  day  ahead  of  time,  and  Mr. 
Sanderson  had  agreed  to  meet  them  and  take  them 
to  his  home. 

"Good  bye,  my  boys,"  said  the  fond  father,  on 
parting.  "Take  good  care  of  yourselves." 

"We  will,"  they  answered  as  they  shook  hands. 

"Learn  all  you  can,"  put  in  Randolph  Rover. 

"Take  care  and  don't  get  into  trouble,"  ad- 
monished Mrs.  Rover,  and  then  she  kissed  them 
tenderly. 

"Don't  forget  to  let  me  know  how  matters  go  in 
Chicago,  dad,"  whispered  Dick,  to  his  parent. 

"I'll  remember,  my  son." 

"And  if  I  can  aid  you  in  any  way,  let  m«  do 
it, — even  if  I  have  to  leave  Brill,"  went  on  Dick. 

"There  is  nothing  to  do  at  present,  Dick.  I 
must  wait  for  that  report." 

'  Soon  the  boys  were  in  the  touring  car,  with 
Jack  Ness  to  bring  the  automobile  back  from  the 
railroad  station,  he  now  being  able  to  run  the 
machine.  Dick  was  at  the  wheel.  Tom  had 


OFF  FOR  BRILL  COLLEGE  113 

cranked  up,  and  off  they  sped,  with  a  merry  shout 
and  with  those  left  behind  waving  their  hands. 

"Let  her  go,  Dick!"  sang  out  Tom. 

"Good  bye!  "yelled  Sam. 

"Good  bye!"  came  back  faintly  from  the  home- 
stead. 

Then  a  turn  of  the  road  shut  out  the  house 
from  view.  Once  again  the  Rover  boys  were  off 
for  college.  Little  did  they  dream  of  the  strange 
adventures  in  store  for  them. 


CHAPTER  XII 

A   GRAND   ARRIVAL 

"GLAD  to  see  you,  boys!  You're  looking 
prime !" 

It  was  the  greeting  of  Mr.  Sanderson,  as  the 
Rovers  stepped  from  the  train  at  Ashton.  The 
farmer  was  waiting  at  the  platform  with  a  two- 
seated  carriage  to  take  them  to  his  farm. 

"How  are  you,  Mr.  Sanderson!"  came  from 
the  three,  and  then  all  continued  in  a  chorus: 
"Did  the  biplane  get  here?" 

"Something  got  here — two  boxes  an'  several 
big  bundles,"  answered  the  farmer.  "I  had  every- 
thing carted  over  to  my  place." 

"Two  boxes  and  four  bundles,"  said  Dick. 

"Right  you  are.    One  of  'em  putty  heavy,  too." 

"That  was  the  engine,  Mr.  Sanderson,"  vouch- 
safed Sam. 

"Is  that  so!  Well,  times  are  sure  changin',  an* 
bymeby  the  hosses  won't  be  in  it  no  more.  So 
you  calkerlate  to  fly  over  to  the  college." 

"We  do,  if  we  can  get  the  machine  into  shape," 
114 


A  GRAND  ARRIVAL  115     ; 

answered  Tom.  "It  may  be  that  something  got 
broke  on  the  way  and  will  have  to  be  mended," 
he  added,  anxiously. 

"Well,  we  didn't  break  anything,  Tom,  take  my 
word  on  that.  If  any  thing's  broke  the  railroad 
company  done  it." 

The  boys  were  soon  seated  in  the  carriage  and 
Mr.  Sanderson  took  up  the  reins.  As  my  old 
readers  know,  the  farmer  was  proud  of  his  horses 
and  he  had  good  reason  to  be,  for  they  started  off 
in  fine  style,  and  presently  were  passing  every- 
thing on  that  long  and  somewhat  dusty  road. 

"How  is  Miss  Minnie?"  asked  Tom,  on  the 
way. 

"Fust  rate,  Tom.  She  went  drivin'  yesterday 
with  that  young  feller  from  Brill  that  sprouts 
poetry." 

"Oh,  then  Songbird  has  really  arrived!"  cried 
Tom. 

"He  has."  Mr.  Sanderson  looked  serious  for  a 
moment.  "Say,  is  he  any  good — or  is  he  all — 
well,  all  poetry?" 

t  "Songbird  is  one  of  the  best  and  smartest  boys 
•in  the  college,  Mr.  Sanderson,"  said  Dick,  bound 
to  put  in  a  good  word  for  their  chum.  "He  likes 
to  make  up  verses,  but  that  isn't  all  he  can  do. 
Some  day  he'll  be  a  good  business  man." 

"Well,  I'm  glad  to  hear  that,"  answered  the 


Il6  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

farmer;  and  the  three  Rover  boys  knew  he  was 
thinking  of  his  only  daughter  Minnie,  and  of  the 
attention  Songbird  Powell  was  paying  to  her. 

It  was  not  long  before  they  came  in  sight  of 
the  Sanderson  homestead,  pleasantly  located  in 
a  grove  of  trees.  Minnie  Sanderson  was  on  the 
lookout  for  them — a  round-faced,  jolly  young 
lady — and  she  waved  her  hand  as  the  carriage 
came  to  a  halt. 

"Why  didn't  you  come  in  that  wonderful  air- 
ship!" she  sang  out  gaily.  "I'm  dying  to  see  you 
fly!" 

"Because  you  have  the  machine  here!"  an- 
swered Sam. 

"Oh,  we've  only  got  some  bundles,  and  they 
don't  look  a  bit  like  a  flying  machine,"  went  on 
the  girl.  "But,  say,"  she  added,  her  cheeks  dimpl- 
ing. "What  a  time  I  had  yesterday,  keeping  your 
secret!  Mr.  Powell  took  me  out  riding," — she 
blushed  a  trifle — "and  when  we  came  back  he 
wanted  to  know  what  the  bundles  contained.  I 
told  him  it  was  some  kind  of  machinery.  He  saw 
the  canvas  and  said  he  guessed  pa  was  going  to 
put  up  a  windmill!" 

"Thanks  for  keeping  it  dark !"  cried  Dick.  "We 
want  to  surprise  everybody  at  Brill." 

"You'll  have  to  be  careful  of  what  you  do 
then,"  went  on  the  girl.  " Some  of  the  young  men 


A  GRAND  ARRIVAL  117 

have  been  around,  and  I — well,  I  don't  like  it." 

"Who  was  around?"  asked  Tom. 

"Mr.  Flockley,  for  one,"  and  Minnie  bit  her 
lip,  for  she  had  not  forgotten  how  that  dudish 
collegian  had  once  insulted  her, — the  time  the 
Rover  boys  had  come  to  her  rescue,  as  related  in 
detail  in  "The  Rover  Boys  at  College." 

"Did  he  come  to  the  house?"  asked  Sam. 

"Oh,  no,  he  merely  walked  through  the  orchard. 
But  I  guess  he  saw  some  of  the  packages." 

"He  didn't  speak  to  you,  did  he?"  asked  Dick, 
bluntly. 

"I  didn't  give  him  the  chance.  When  I  saw 
him,  I  walked  into  the  house,  and  he  didn't  dare 
to  follow  me." 

It  was  almost  supper  time,  and  the  boys  had  ar- 
ranged to  remain  at  the  Sanderson  homestead,  in- 
stead of  going  to  the  rather  poor  hotel  at  Ashton. 
They  had  a  merry  time  with  the  others  over  the 
repast,  and  then,  even  though  it  was  late,  they 
went  down  to  the  barn  to  inspect  the  boxes  and 
bundles  comprising  the  Dartaway. 

"Everything  seems  to  be  all  right,"  said  Dick. 
"We  ought  to  be  able  to  put  her  together  in  a  day, 
if  we  all  work  hard  enough." 

"We'll  get  up  at  six  in  the  morning,"  said  Sam. 

So  it  was  arranged,  and  Mr.  Sanderson  said  he 
would  call  them.  But  this  was  unnecessary,  for 


Il8  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

all  were  up  and  downstairs  before  the  appointed 
hour,  and  before  breakfast  was  served  they  had 
the  boxes  and  bundles  open  and  the  various  por- 
tions of  the  biplane  ready  for  assembling.  » 

"Can't  I  help?"  asked  the  farmer,  who  was 
much  interested  in  what  was  going  on. 

"You  can  help  us  lift  the  engine,"  said  Dick. 
"That  is  rather  heavy." 

The  boys  and  the  farmer  worked  until  five 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  over  the  biplane,  knock- 
ing off  a  half  hour  for  dinner.  For  that  meal 
they  had  same  fried  chicken  and  fresh  vegetables, 
and  an  apple  pie  made  by  Minnie  which  Tom  de- 
clared was  "a  dream." 

"We'll  come  and  board  with  you,"  said  Dick, 
to  the  girl.  "This  sort  of  food  goes  away  ahead 
of  the  college  stuff;  eh,  boys?" 

"Indeed  it  does!"  cried  Tom. 

"Can't  be  beaten,"  put  in  Sam.  And  these  com- 
pliments pleased  the  farmer's  daughter  very  much. 

Gasoline  was  at  hand  and  also  oil,  and  soon  the 
youths  had  the  engine  of  the  biplane  in  working 
order.  But  it  was  not  started  until  the  Dartaivay 
had  been  rolled  off  to  the  middle  of  a  big  field. 

"I  don't  want  to  scare  your  horses  and  cattle," 
explained  Dick,  to  the  farmer.  "When  the  engine 
starts  they'll  think  Fourth  of  July  has  arrived." 

Soon  all  was  in  readiness,  and  with  a  final  in- 


A  GRAND  ARRIVAL  i  ig 

spection  of  the  biplane,  Dick  took  his  seat  in  the 
machine  and  called  to  his  brothers  to  work  the 
propellers.  Bang!  bang!  bang!  went  the  cylin- 
ders, and  around  went  the  big  blades,  faster  and 
faster,  until  only  a  blur  could  be  seen.  Then 
over  the  field  shot  the  Dartaway  and  up  in  the  air. 

"Oh,  my,  just  to  look  at  that!"  gasped  Minnie. 
"Just  like  a  big  bird!" 

"Well,  I'll  be  switched!"  cried  Mr.  Sanderson. 
"An  airship,  sure  as  you  are  born!  I  didn't  think 
I'd  live  to  see  one !  My !  my !  just  to  see  that  thing 
a-sailin'  through  the  air!" 

Dick  made  the  circuit  of  the  field  and  then 
cut  a  figure  eight.  The  machine  seemed  to  work 
perfectly,  and  when  he  came  down  he  was  well 
satisfied. 

"All  aboard  for  Brill  College!"  he  cried. 
"Through  passage  only!  No  stopovers  allowed!" 

"Shall  we  sail  over  now,  or  wait  until  to-mor- 
row?" asked  Sam. 

"Oh,  come  on  now!"  cried  Tom,  impatiently. 
"Lots  of  fellows  will  be  on  the  campus  at  this 
"hour,  and  we  can  do  some  circling  around  before 
we  land." 

"I'm  willing,"  said  Dick.  "Who  is  to  do  the 
steering?" 

"You  do  it — you're  the  oldest,"  said  Sam. 

"That's  right,"  added  Tom. 


'120  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"I  don't  want  all  the  glory,"  insisted  Dick. 

"You  are  not  going  to  have,"  went  on  the  fun- 
loving  Rover.  "See  what  I've  got  for  Sam  and 
myself."  And  he  brought  out  a  mysterious  pack- 
age he  had  brought  from  home.  It  contained 
two  silken  American  flags  and  two  tin  horns. 

"We'll  do  the  patriotic  while  you  run  the  ma- 
chine," said  Sam. 

"And  I've  got  something  else — but  never  mind 
what  it  is,"  went  on  Tom. 

"No  fireworks,  Tom — they  are  too  dangerous 
in  a  flying  machine,"  warned  Dick,  who  knew  his 
brother's  love  for  things  that  made  a  noise. 

"Nothing  dangerous  this  time,  Dick,  I'll  give 
you  my  word." 

The  Dartaway  was  given  another  inspection 
and  then  staked  to  the  ground  with  a  strong  rope, 
fastened  by  a  slip  knot.  Then  the  engine  was 
started  up  and  the  three  lads  clambered  on  board. 

"Good  bye!"  they  cried  to  the  Sandersons. 

"Good  bye  and  good  luck!"  answered  the 
farmer. 

"Let  us  know  how  you  arrive,"  added  his 
daughter. 

Then  the  knot  in  the  rope  was  allowed  to  slide, 
and  with  a  rush  and  a  whizz  the  biplane  sped  over 
the  smooth  ground  and  then  soared  into  the  air. 
By  the  time  Sam  had  hauled  in  the  dangling  rope, 


A  GRAND  ARRIVAL  121 

the  flying  machine  had  left  the  Sanderson  farm 
far  behind. 

"Oh,  this  is  simply  glorious!"  cried  Tom.  He 
had  his  flag  in  one  hand  and  his  horn  in  the  other, 
and  Sam  was  similarly  equipped. 

"Of  course  you  know  the  way,  Dick,"  said  the 
youngest  Rover. 

"Oh,  yes,  it's  easy.  I'll  simply  follow  the  road. 
But  I  am  going  up  a  bit,"  added  Dick.  "I  don't 
want  to  scare  any  horses,  or  we  may  have  some 
damage  suits  to  settle." 

"The  horses  will  have  to  get  used  to  flying  ma- 
chines, just  as  they  had  to  get  used  to  autos,"  was 
Sam's  comment. 

On  and  on  flew  the  Dartaway,  Dick  managing 
the  biplane  as  skillfully  as  if  he  was  a  seasoned 
aviator.  Over  the  farms  and  barns  and  houses 
they  sailed,  creating  much  astonishment.  The  in- 
habitants came  rushing  forth,  some  with  milk 
pails,  and  women  with  dish  cloths  and  towels  in 
their  hands.  One  boy  in  his  excitement  shied  a 
dipper  at  them,  the  object  falling  short  of  its 
mark  by  several  hundred  yards. 
k  "We  are  waking  folks  up,"  remarked  Tom,  as 
he  tooted  his  horn  and  waved  his  flag,  and  Sam 
followed  suit.  Then  the  fun-loving  Rover  placed 
his  horn  under  his  arm  and  began  to  fumble  at 
something  in  his  pocket. 


'122  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"I  see  Brill!"  cried  Sam,  presently.  "There  is 
the  main  building!"  And  he  pointed  with  his 
hand. 

"I  see  it,"  answered  Dick.  "Now  for  a  fevr 
circles  and  a  figure  eight  before  we  come  down. 
I  hope  they'll  give  us  room  to  land." 

In  a  few  seconds  more  the  various  buildings  be- 
longing to  the  institution  of  learning  were  in  full 
view.  Dick  started  up  the  engine  with  renewed 
speed,  thereby  making  more  noise,  and  Tom  and 
Sam  added  to  the  din  by  blowing  the  horns  with 
all  their  might.  The  two  boys  also  waved  the 
flags. 

The  racket  had  the  desired  effect.  From  one 
building  and  another  ran  the  students  and  the 
members  of  the  faculty,  and  also  the  hired  help, 
and  all  gazed  up  into  the  sky  to  learn  what  the 
poise  meant. 

"It's  an  airship!" 
"There  are  three  people  on  board !" 
"Say,  doesn't  she  sail  along  beautifully!" 
"Wonder  if  they  are  sailing  across  the  state." 
"Maybe  they  are  in  the  ocean-to-ocean  race.'* 
"They  look  like  three  boys !    See,  two  of  them 
are  waving  flags!     Now  what  do  you  think  of 
chat!" 

"I'm  going  to  get  my  spyglass,"  said  one  of  the 
voider  teachers,  and  ran  to  do  so.  In  the  mean- 


A  GRAND  ARRIVAL  123 

time  the  Dartazvay  came  closer  and  circled  slowly 
over  the  main  college  building  arid  the  broad 
campus. 

"Look!  look!"  cried  several  of  the  students. 
"What  are  they  up  to?" 

From  the  bottom  of  the  craft  had  suddenly 
burst  a  cluster  of  red,  white  and  blue  tissue-paper 
streamers.  These  floated  under  and  behind  the 
Dart  away,  producing  a  beautiful  effect.  Then 
suddenly  came  floating  down  through  the  air  a 
quantity  of  many-colored  confetti — tiny  bits  of 
pretty  paper  that  settled  everywhere. 

"The  Rover  boys!"  cried  the  teacher  who  had 
brought  out  his  spyglass.  "They  are  the  three 
Rover  boys!" 

"The  Rover  boys !"  cried  Songbird  Powell,  who 
stood  near.  "Are  you  sure?" 

"Yes." 

"Hurrah!"  shouted  Stanley  Browne.  "Now, 
isn't  that  just  like  them?  Always  up  to  some- 
thing new  and  original." 

"Three  cheers  for  the  Rover  boys!"  called 
out  one  of  the  seniors.  And  the  cheers  were 
given  with  a  will,  while  the  Dartaway  continued 
for  some  time  to  float  over  the  college  grounds 
and  then  came  settling  down  like  some  big  white 
bird,  in  the  very  center  of  the  campus. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

SOME  INTERESTING  NEWS 

BEFORE  the  biplane  had  come  to  a  complete 
standstill  the  students  on  the  campus  made  a  rush 
and  surrounded  the  three  Rover  boys. 

"The  grandest  arrival  I  ever  heard  of!"  cried 
Songbird  Powll,  as  he  caught  one  after  another 
by  the  hand.  "I  shall  have  to  write  some  verses 
about  this." 

"However  did  you  manage  it?"  queried  Stan- 
ley Browne.  "I  didn't  know  you  could  run  an 
aeroplane. w 

"It's  out  of  sight  alretty!"  came  from  Max 
Spangler.  "But  we  could  see  it,  yes!"  he  added 
hastily. 

"Oh,  we  thought  we'd  give  the  fellows  a  little 
surprise,"  answered  Dick  modestly.  "We  pur- 
chased the  biplane  some  time  ago.  It's  easy  to 
run  after  you  get  the  knack  of  it." 

"But  carrying  three!"  went  on  Stanley.  "I've 
heard  of  'em  carrying  two  but  not  more  than 
that." 

124 


SOME  INTERESTING  NEWS  125 

"It's  quite  a  load,"  said  Tom.  "We've  got  to 
have  a  more  powerful  engine  if  we  want  to  carry 
that  many  right  along." 

"And  the  streamers  and  confetti!"  cried  Song- 
bird. "I'll  bet  those  were  Tom's  idea!" 

"You're  right,"  answered  Dick. 

"And  he  thought  of  the  flags  and  horns,  too,*' 
put  in  Sam,  bound  to  place  the  credit  where  it 
was  due. 

"I  had  to  do  something  to  let  off  steam,"  said 
Tom  lightly.  "Dick  wouldn't  allow  me  to  fire  a 
bomb,  or  a  cannon,  or  anything  like  that,"  he  con- 
tinued dryly. 

During  this  talk  many  of  the  students  and  in- 
structors commenced  to  inspect  the  biplane,  and 
soon  the  Rover  boys  were  kept  busy  answering 
questions. 

"Well,  young  gentlemen,  allow  me  to  congratu- 
late you  on  your  successful  flight  to  this  place!" 
said  a  pleasant  voice,  and  turning  the  youths  found 
themselves  confronted  by  Doctor  John  Walling- 
ton,  the  head  of  the  college.  He  smiled  broadly 
as  he  shook  hands.  "This  surely  marks  an  epoch 
in  the  history  of  Brill,"  he  went  on.  "First  ar- 
rival of  students  by  airship,"  and  he  turned  to 
Professor  Blackie,  who  was  with  him. 

"You  are  right,  sir,"  returned  that  instructor. 
"We'll  have  to  make  a  note  of  it."  And  this  wa§ 


126  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

done;  and  anybody  going  to  Brill  can  see  thfl 
record  in  the  "history  book"  of  that  famous  in- 
stitution. 

"Look  who's  here!"  suddenly  cried  a  cheery 
;  voice,  and  Will  Jackson,  usually  called  "Spud," 
because  of  his  liking  for  potatoes,  pushed  his  way 
to  the  Rover  boys'  side.  "I  was  upstairs  dressing 
when  you  arrived,  but  I  saw  it  all  from  the  win- 
dow. Say,  that  flight  couldn't  be  beaten.  You 
must  have  come  about  three  miles  a  minute,  eh? 
Puts  me  in  mind  of  the  time  I  was  caught  in  a 
Kansas  cyclone.  The  wind  carried  me  off  my 
feet,  and  landed  me  high  up  on  the  side  of  a  big 
building,  and  there  I  had  to  stick  until  the  wind 
went  down!  Fact,  and  if  you  don't  believe  it, 
some  day  I'll  show  you  one  of  the  bricks  from 
that  same  building.  I  keep  it  to  sharpen  my  pen- 
knife oa'" 

"The  same  old  Spud!"  cried  Dick,  while  the 
others  laughed  outright.  "Telling  a  yarn  before 
he  even  shakes  hands.  How  are  you?"  And  he 
gave  Will's  hand  a  squeeze  that  made  the  story- 
feller  wince. 

"We'll  have  to  have  some  place  in  which  to 
store  the  biplane,"  said  Sam  to  Dr.  Wallington. 
"Do  you  think  we  could  put  it  in  the  boathouse 
for  the  present — or  in  the  shed  of  the  gymna- 
sium ?" 


SOME  INTERESTING  NEWS 


127 


"You  may  use  the  gymnasium  shed,  if  you  can 
get  the  machine  inside,"  replied  the  head  of  the 
college.  "I  presume  we'll  have  to  build  regular 
hangars  here, — if  the  students  are  going  to  ow» 
flying  machines,"  he  added,  with  a  smile. 

"Well,  they  are  good  advertisements,  Doctor," 
put  in  Tom.  "Nothing  like  being  up-to-date,  you 
know." 

"Perhaps,  Rover,  perhaps.  And  it  will  be  in- 
structive to  all  here,  to  watch  you  and  your  broth- 
ers manipulate  the  biplane.  But  do  not  let  the 
use  of  the  machine  interfere  with  your  studies." 

"Oh,  we'll  use  it  like  we  would  our  bicycles,  or 
a  motor  boat,  or  an  auto,"  said  Sam.  "We  came 
back  to  make  a  record  for  ourselves." 

"I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  Samuel,  very  glad  in- 
deed." And  then  the  good  doctor  hurried  away 
to  attend  to  his  official  duties. 

Some  of  the  late  arrivals  wanted  the  Rover 
boys  to  give  another  exhibition  flight,  and  for 
their  benefit  Tom  took  a  little  sail  by  himself,  and 
then  Sam  went  up  for  five  minutes.  Then  the  bi- 
plane was  rolled  over  to  the  big  shed  attached  to 
the  gymnasium, — a  place  usually  used  for  housing 
carriages  and  automobiles  during  athletic  con- 
tests. Here  one  end  was  cleaned  out  and  the  Dart- 
aivay  was  rolled  in,  and  the  engine  was  covered 
with  a  tarpaulin  brought  from  the  boathouse. 


lag  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

During  the  time  that  all  this  was  being  done, 
one  student  of  Brill  had  kept  to  himself,  even 
though  greatly  interested  in  what  was  going  on, 
This  was  Dudd  Flockley,  the  dudish  youth  who 
had  once  been  the  crony  of  Jerry  Koswefl  and 
'Bart  Larkspur.  There  was  a  sneer  on  his  hand- 
some face. 

"Great  work,  eh,  Dudd?"  said  Bob  Grimes, 
one  of  the  students,  in  passing. 

"I  don't  know  what  you  mean,"  returned  Flock- 
ley,  coolly. 

"Oh,  yes  you  do,  Dudd,"  retorted  the  other. 
"But  I  suppose  it's  sour  grapes  for  you,"  he  added 
pointedly,  for  he  was  a  friend  to  the  Rovers  and 
knew  something  about  the  troubles  of  the  past. 

"Bah!"  came  from  Dudd  Flockley,  and  he 
turned  and  hurried  away.  "Now  those  Rover 
boys  have  come  back  I  suppose  they'll  try  to  lord 
it  over  everybody,  just  as  they  did  before.  How 
I  hate  them !  I  wish  I  could  do  something  to  get 
them  in  a  hole!"  He  had  forgotten  completely 
the  kindness  the  Rover  boys  had  shown  him,  and 
how  they  had  gone  to  the  head  of  the  college  and 
, pleaded  for  him,  so  that  he  had  been  allowed  to 
•remain  at  Brill.  Perhaps  Flockley  was  not  as 
wicked  at  heart  as  his  former  college  cronies, 
Larkspur  and  Koswell,  but  he  was  equally  an- 
grateful. 


SOME  INTERESTING  NEWS  129 

Soon  the  Rover  boys  and  their  chums  were  up 
in  the  dormitory  where  they  had  their  rooms. 
As  before,  Tom  and  Sam  were  together,  in  Num- 
ber 25.  vj-'Kri  Dick  and  Songbird  in  Number  26, 
and  St-anley  and  the  others  not  far  off. 

"Home  again!"  sang  out  Tom,  as  he  dropped  ir> 
an  easy  chair.  "My,  but  this  looks  natural!"  he 
added,  glancing  around. 

"I  want  to  tell  you  something,"  said  Stanley, 
who  had  followed  the  three  brothers  and  Song- 
bird into  one  of  the  rooms.  "Maybe  we'd  better 
shut  the  door,"  he  added,  significantly. 

"Yes,  he's  got  news,"  added  Songbird.  "Say, 
it  beats  the  nation  how  some  fellows  hold  a 
grudge,"  he  went  on. 

"What's  the  trouble  now?"  demanded  Dick, 
quickly. 

"Day  before  yesterday  I  was  over  to  Ashton," 
answered  Stanley,  after  the  door  to  the  room  had 
been  closed  and  locked.  "I  went  by  the  upper 
road  and  I  had  to  pass  that  new  roadhouse,  the 
place  called  the  Red  Horseshoe.  Well,  who  was 
sitting  on  the  piazza  but  Jerry  Koswell  and  Bart 
Larkspur.  They  had  been  having  a  gay  time,  I, 
guess,  and  both  were  talking  loudly.  When  they 
saw  me  they  called  to  me  to  stop,  and  then  they 
asked  me  if  you  fellows  had  come  back  to  Brill." 

"What  did  you  tell  them?"  asked  Torn. 


130  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"  I  told  them  no,  but  that  you  were  expected 
in  a  few  days.  Then  both  of  them  began  to  brag, 
and  said  they  had  it  in  for  all  three  of  you 
Rovers." 

"Did  they  say  what  they  intended  to  do?"  ques- 
tioned Tom. 

"Not  exactly,  but  Koswell  intimated  that  if 
you  didn't  look  out  you  might  be  blown  up." 

"Blown  up!"  exclaimed  Dick,  and  he  thought 
instantly  of  what  Tad  Sobber  and  Josiah  Crab- 
tree  had  said  to  Dora  and  Nellie. 

"That's  what  he  said.  I  wanted  to  find  out 
what  he  meant,  but  Larkspur  stopped  him  from 
talking  and  told  him  to  shut  up.  But,  Dick,  I  feel 
sure  they  mean  something,  and  all  of  you  fellows 
better  be  on  your  guard, "  added  Stanley  earnestly. 

"This  is  surely  getting  interesting,"  said  Tom. 
"First  Sobber  and  old  Crabtree  promise  to  blow 
us  up  and  now  Koswell  and  Larkspur  propose 
the  same  thing." 

"They  must  be  in  league  with  each  other!" 
cried  Sam. 

"It  looks  that  way — especially  after  what  hap- 
pened on  Casco  Bay,*"  returned  Dick.  And  then 
he  told  Songbird  and  Stanley  of  the  recent  hap- 
penings near  the  Rovers'  home,  and  elsewhere. 

"Well,  my  advice  is,  keep  your  eyes  wide  open 
all  the  time,"  said  Songbird.  "Those  fellows  are 


SOME  INTERESTING  NEWS  i$i 

desperate — their  actions  show  it — and  they'll  play 
you  foul  if  they  get  half  a  chance." 

"And  to  that  advice  let  me  add  something 
more,"  said  Stanley.  "Don't  trust  Dudd  Flock- 
ley.  He  pretended  to  reform  for  a  while,  but  be- 
'hind  it  all  I  think  he  is  as  bad  as  ever.  If  you 
gave  him  any  information  he  may  carry  it  straight, 
to  those  others." 

"Thank  you,  Stanley,  I'll  remember  that,"  said 
Dick. 

"So  will  I,"  added  Tom,  and  Sam  nodded  in 
approval. 

"Welt,  to  let  you  in  behind  the  scenes,"  went  on 
Dick,  to  Stanley  and  Songbird,  "I  am  not  so  much 
worried  about  ourselves  as  I  am  about  Mrs. 
Stanhope  and  Dora  and  the  Lanings.  Sobber  and 
old  Crabtree  want  that  fortune  from  Treasure  Isle 
the  worst  way  and  they'll  do  anything  to  get  hold 
of  it.  Koswell  and  Larkspur  are  probably  short 
of  funds,  and,  as  they  like  to  live  high,  they'll 
help  Sobber  and  Crabtree  all  they  can, — for  a 
rake-off  of  the  proceeds." 

"I  reckon  you  are  right,"  said  Songbird.    "But 
what  do  all  of  them  mean  by  blowing  you  sky 
;;high." 

"That  remains  to  be  seen,"  said  Sam, 

"Or  rather  felt,"  added  Tom,  who  had  to  have 


132  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

his  little  joke.  "Maybe  they'll  plant  some  dyna- 
mite under  the  college  and  blow  us  up!" 

"Hardly  that,  Tom,"  returned  his  older  brother. 
"But  they  may  try  some  kind  of  a  dirty  trick  along 
those  lines," 

"Don't  worry,  boys,  don't  worry!"  cried  Song- 
bird soothingly.  "Let  the  troubles  of  the  future 
take  care  of  themselves,  and  then  he  murmured 
softly : 

"Though  the  skies  be  dark  and  dreary 

And  hope  be  almost  dead, 
And  hearts  are  all  so  weary " 

"Each  one  can  go  to  bed!" 

finished  Tom.  "A  fine  bit  of  poetry  truly,  Song- 
bird, old  sport." 

"Who  said  anything  about  going  to  bed?" 
snorted  the  would-be  poet.  "I  had  a  finer  line 
than  that,  Tom.  It  was — er — it  was — a — er — 

a Oh,  dear,  you've  quite  driven  it  out  of 

my  head!" 

"Never  mind,  it  will  come  back  day  after  yes- 
terday, or  before  and  sooner,"  went  on  the  fun- 
loving  Rover  blandly.  "Now  let  us  put  away  our 
things  and  get  ready  for  supper.  I'm  as  hungry 
as  a  wolf  in  a  famine." 

"That's  right,"  chimed  in  Sam.  "Aeroplaning 
can  give  one  a  wonderful  appetite." 


SOME  INTERESTING  NEWS  133 

"It's  the  air,"  said  Stanley. 

That  evening,  after  a  good  meal,  the  Rover 
boys  had  to  tell  of  their  various  experiences  with 
the  biplane.  Not  a  student  of  Brill  had  ever  gone 
up  in  a  flying  machine  although  several  had  gone 
up  in  balloons  at  county  fairs  and  elsewhere.  The 
Rovers  had  to  promise  to  take  up  half  a  dozen  of 
their  chums.  So  far  during  the  fall,  talk  of  foot- 
ball had  filled  the  air,  but  now  all  became  flying 
and  flying  machines.  Several  of  the  richer  students 
promised  themselves  machines  in  the  near  future. 

"That's  the  talk!"  cried  Tom,  enthusiastically. 
"Then  we  can  have  some  races!" 

"Maybe  we  can  even  get  up  an  intercollegiate 
aeroplaning  contest,"  remarked  Sam. 

"I'm  afraid  it's  a  little  too  early  for  that  yet," 
answered  Dick.  "But  such  contests  may  come 
one  of  these  days." 

The  Rover  boys  were  tired  out  from  their  day 
of  labor  and  excitement  and  ten  o'clock  found 
them  in  their  rooms  ready  to  go  to  bed.  Tom 
and  Sam  had  started  to  take  off  their  shoes  when 
there  came  a  faint  tap  on  the  door  and  Bob  Grimes 
appeared. 

"Hello,  Bob!"  cried  Tom.  "What  can  I  do 
for  you?" 

"Hush!  not  so  loud!"  whispered  the  other  stu- 
dent, with  a  glance  over  his  shoulder  down  the 


134 


THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 


corridor.  "Listen,  both  of  you,"  he  went  on 
hurriedly.  "Don't  ask  me  any  questions,  but  if 
you  don't  want  your  biplane  ruined  be  sure  and 
guard  it  closely!"  And  having  spoken  thus,  Bob' 
Crimes  hurried  down  the  corridor  and  out  of 
sight. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

THE  BIRTHDAY  FEAST 

THE  two  Rover  brothers  looked  at  each  other 
in  amazement,  and  for  a  moment  neither  spoke. 

"What  do  you  suppose  he  meant?"  asked  Sam, 
presently. 

"He  meant  just  wha-i.  he  said,"  returned  Tom. 
"I'm  going  to  tell  Dick,"  and  he  summoned  his 
big  brother  without  delay. 

"I  think  I  can  piece  this  together,"  said  Dick. 
"I  saw  Bob  Grimes  talking  to  Dudd  Flockley  this 
afternoon,  and  again  after  supper.  Most  likely 
Bob  got  on  the  trail  of  something  Dudd  thinks  of 
doing.  He  doesn't  want  to  appear  as  a  tattle-tale 
and  at  the  same  time  he  doesn't  want  to  see  our 
machine  ruined.  So  that's  why  he  warned  you 
'in  such  a  queer  fashion." 

"You  must  be  right,"  answered  Tom.  "What 
shall  we  do?" 

"Nothing,  Tom." 

135 


136  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Yes,  but  we  don't  want  the  machine  ruined,  of 
even  tampered  with!"  exclaimed  Sam. 

"I  don't  think  anybody  will  touch  it,"  went  on 
the  eldest  Rover  boy.  "After  you  came  up  here  I 
got  to  thinking  that  maybe  Flockley,  or  Koswell, 
or  Larkspur,  or  somebody  else,  might  try  to  in- 
jure the  Dartaway,  and  so  I  went  to  see  Filbury, 
the  janitor,  about  it  His  son  Abner  is  helping 
him  around  the  dormitories,  and  I  hired  Abner 
for  fifty  cents  a  night  to  sleep  in  the  shed  and 
guard  the  biplane.  Abner  has  got  a  shotgun,  and 
he  isn't  afraid  of  anybody ;  so  I  reckon  the  Dart- 
away  will  be  perfectly  safe." 

"Good  for  you,  Dick!"  cried  Tom.  "Say,  I 
hope  if  anybody  does  try  to  injure  the  machine 
Abner  gives  him  a  dose  of  shot!" 

"I  told  him  not  to  shoot  anybody  unless  it  was 
necessary,"  answered  Dick.  "But  he  may  shoot 
into  the  air,  just  to  scare  the  intruder  and  raise 
an  alarm." 

The  next  day  was  such  a  busy  one  for  the 
Rover  boys  that  they  had  no  time  to  do  more  than 
look  at  the  biplane  and  see  that  it  was  safe.  Ab- 
ner Filbury  reported  that  he  had  slept  in  a  ham- 
mock slung  beside  the  machine  and  that  nothing 
had  happened  to  arouse  him.  Nobody  but  the 
Rovers  knew  that  he  was  on  guard.  The  boys 


THE  BIRTHDAY  FEAST  137 

wanted  to  tell  Bob  Grimes,  but  that  individual 
kept  out  of  the  way. 

After  having  settled  down  in  their  rooms  and 
to  their  studies,  the  three  Rover  boys  made  sev- 
eral flights  in  the  biplane,  including  one  to  the 
Sanderson  farm,  where  they  discovered  Songbird 
calling  on  Minnie.  Both  were  seated  in  a  ham- 
mock between  the  house  and  the  barn,  and  both 
leaped  up  in  confusion  when  the  biplane,  man- 
ipulated by  Tom,  sailed  directly  over  their  heads. 
When  the  Rovers  came  down  in  the  big  field,  Min- 
nie ran  to  greet  them,  and,  later,  she  treated  them 
to  apple  pie  and  some  milk.  Then  they  set  sail 
once  more,  leaving  their  college  chum  to  finish 
his  interrupted  visit. 

After  this  flight  the  boys  ordered  a  new  engine 
for  the  Dartaiuay,  one  which  would  make  sailing 
safer,  especially  in  a  stiff  wind.  The  makers  said 
they  would  send  the  new  engine  immediately,  and 
a  machinist  to  install  it,  and  they  agreed  to  take 
the  old  engine  back  at  cost  price,  since  it  was 
practically  new. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  Rover  boys 
neglected  their  studies.  As  my  old  readers  know, 
whatever  they  tackled  they  went  at  with  all  their 
might,  and  this  applied  to  their  work  as  well  as 
their  play. 

"Dad  sent  us  here  to  get  an  education,"  said 


138  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

Dick.  "And  while  I  am  here  I  am  going  to  study 
all  I  can.  There  is  no  telling  how  long  I'll  be  able 
to  remain  here  anyway." 

"Thinking  of  dad's  western  affairs?"  asked 
Sam. 

"Yes;  I  may  have  to  take  hold  and  help  him 
and  Uncle  Randolph  out.  Both  of  then?  are  not 
as  young  as  they  used  to  be,  you  know." 

"That's  true,  Dick.  I  noticed  dad's  hair  getting 
pretty  gray,  and  uncle's  is  almost  white." 

The  boys  had  written  home  and  also  to  the 
Stanhopes  and  the  Lanings,  and  soon  came  letters 
in  return.  One,  from  Mr.  Anderson  Rover,  was 
of  special  importance. 

"I  have  news  out  of  the  ordinary,"  wrote  the 
parent.  "That  man  Crabtree  and  Tad  Sobber 
have  come  back  to  the  old  mill.  I  got  the  word 
from  Peter  Marley.  He  says  they  act  very  sus- 
piciously, and  that  a  boy  who  works  for  him  over- 
heard Crabtree  and  Sobber  talking  about  us.  I 
have  sent  for  a  detective  to  come  out  from  the 
city  and  watch  them  for  a  while.  If  anything 
new  developes  I  will  let  you  know." 

"Now  what  in  the  world  can  old  Crabtree  and 
Sobber  be  up  to?"  asked  Sam,  after  all  had  read 
the  communication. 


THE  BIRTHDAY  FEAST  139 

"Up  to  some  trick,  I'll  bet  a  new  hat,"  de- 
clared Tom.  "I  am  glad  dad  sent  for  the  detec- 
tive. I  hope  he  catches  them  red-handed  at  some- 
thing, and  locks  them  up. " 

"They  certainly  ought  to  be  locked  up,"  was 
Dick's  comment. 

The  boys  studied  hard  that  evening  and  by  ten 
o'clock  all  were  tired  out  and  ready  to  go  to  bed. 
But,  just  as  they  were  on  the  point  of  retiring, 
there  came  a  knock  on  the  door  of  the  room  oc- 
cupied by  Tom  and  Sam,  and  Stanley  appeared 

"You  are  wanted  in  Room  14!"  said  the  stu- 
dent, in  a  loud  whisper.  "Come  right  along." 

"What's  up?"  asked  both  boys. 

"Feast— ice-cream  and  cake.  Max  and  Spud 
were  down  to  the  town  and  they  brought  the 
stuff  along.  Come  on,  before  it's  too  late  and  the 
ice-cream  melts." 

"Me  for  the  ice-cream!"  cried  Tom,  and  did 
a  handspring  over  his  bed.  "Are  the  others  in- 
vited?" 

"Sure — a  round  dozen,"  answered  Stanley. 

Room  14  was  at  the  end  of  the  corridor  and 
occupied  by  two  students  named  Lane  and  Par 
ley,  whole-souled  fellows  who  were  always  ready 
for  a  good  time.  The  room  was  so  located  that  it 
had  much  more  privacy  than  the  other  apart- 
ments. 


THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

'  Soon  the  boys  had  gathered, —  as  jolly  a  crowd 
as  could  be  found  at  Brill.  Max  and  Spud  had 
spread  themselves,  it  being  the  German-American 
lad's  birthday. 

"Say,  this  is  certainly  fine!"  cried  Sam,  as  he 
surveyed  several  big  cakes,  two  hands  of  bana- 
nas, some  grapes,  and  several  bricks  of  ice-cream 
of  various  flavors. 

"How  are  you  going  to  serve  the  ice-cream?'* 
asked  Dick. 

"Oh,  we're  all  prepared!"  cried  Spud,  and  ex- 
hibited a  "nest"  of  paper  saucers  and  another  of 
paper  plates,  and  then  a  handful  of  tin  spoons. 
"I  thought  these  would  answer  better  than  the  real 
thing,  for  when  we  have  finished  we  won't  have 
to  wash  anything — we  can  throw  the  whole  mess 
away." 

"Say,  that's  Spud,"  cried  the  student  named 
Lane  "Once  he  had  to  wash  dishes  at  a  picnic 
we  went  to  and  you  ought  to  see  the  face  he  cut. " 

"Come,  git  busy  alretty!"  cried  Max,  as  he 
flourished  a  knife  and  commenced  to  cut  one  of 
the  cakes.  "Spud,  chop  the  ice-cream  up  right 
avay!" 

"All  right,  me  for  the  chopping!"  cried  Spud 
cheerfully,  and  soon  the  cream  was  being  passed 
around  to  the  assembled  students,  and  the  cake 
and  fruit  followed. 


THE  BIRTHDAY  FEAST  141 

"Fine!"  cried  Tom,  as  he  smacked  his  lips  over 
the  feast.  "Max,  you  have  my  full  permission  to 
have  a  birthday  once  a  week." 

"Yes,  and  when  you  miss  a  week  let  Spud  take 
your  place,"  added  Sam. 

"One  thing  I  can't  understand,  Spud,"  said 
Dick,  with  great  seriousness,  and  everybody  pres- 
ent stopped  eating  to  hear  what  the  eldest  Rover 
might  have  to  say. 

"What  can't  you  understand?"  asked  Spud 
innocently. 

"How  you  could  get  up  a  feast  like  this  and 
forget  to  supply  such  an  important  thing." 

"What  important  thing?"  demanded  Spud,  and 
he  suddenly  looked  a  trifle  worried. 

"Potatoes,"  returned  Dick. 

For  an  instant  there  was  silence,  and  then,  as 
the  other  boys  remembered  Will's  love  of  potatoes 
— a  love  that  had  given  him  the  nickname  of 
"Spud,"  there  was  a  wild  burst  of  laughter. 

"Say,  Spud,  that's  one  on  you!" 

"Too  bad  we  didn't  bring  a  few  praties  along, 
/son!" 

"We  might  have  fried  a  few  over  the  light, 
leh?"  ) 

)     "Don't  you  worry,  dis  feast  ain't  done  yet  al- 
'retty!"  cried  Max.    "Here  is  something  more!" 


142  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

And  going  to  his  bureau  he  brought  out  a  square 
box  wrapped  in  white  paper.  "Spud,  he  gifes  me 
a  big  cake, — now  I  gif  him  somethings,  yes!" 
And  he  handed  the  box  over. 

"What's  this,  another  joke?"  demanded  the 
other  student  suspiciously. 

"Do  you  think  I  play  a  joke?"  asked  Max, 
with  a  hurt  look. 

"All  right  then,"  said  Spud,  and  proceeded  to 
undo  the  string  around  the  box.  Then  he  took 
off  the  paper  and  opened  the  box. 

What  a  shout  went  up !  For  the  box  was  filled 
with  potatoes — plain  white  and  sweet!  There 
were  about  a  quart  of  them,  mixed. 

"Oh,  what  a  sell!"  murmured  Spud.  "I  knew 
you'd  do  something  like  this!"  he  added,  grinning 
sheepishly. 

"Better  pass  'em  around,"  suggested  Tom. 

"All  right,  have  one  raw!"  returned  Spud. 

"Hi!  ton't  gif  dem  avay  so  kvick!"  cried  Max, 
getting  excited  and  talking  more  brokenly  than 
usual.  "Besser  examine  dem  first." 

"Examine   'em?"   murmured   Spud.      "Oh,   I 

see!"  he  added,  and  took  up  one  of  the  potatoes. 

"''Why,  it  isn't  a  potato  at  all!"  he  exclaimed  as 

the  article  came  apart.    "It's  only  a  shell,  and  it's 

filled  with  candy!" 


THE  BIRTHDAY  FEAST 


143 


"Chocolate  drops!"  murmured  Sam.  "Yum! 
yum!" 

"There  are  salted  almonds  in  this  one,"  went 
on  Spud,  opening  an  imitation  of  a  sweet  potato. 
"And  here  are  stuffed  dates,  and  this  had  raisins 
in  it — and  here  are  soft  gum  drops!  Say,  Max, 
this  is  certainly  great!  How  did  you  happen  to 
think  of  it?"  And  Spud  looked  tremendously 
pleased. 

"Oh,  I  know  you  lof  potatoes,"  answered  the 
German-American  youth,  innocently. 

The  candy  was  placed  on  one  of  the  wooden 
plates,  and  the  almonds  and  raisins  on  another, 
and  then  the  good  things  were  passed  around. 

"Ill  keep  these  as  souvenirs  of  the  occasion, " 
said  Spud,  indicating  the  imitation  potatoes. 

"How  about  it,  Songbird,  can't  you  rise  to 
the  occasion?"  asked  Dick,  who  had  noticed  that 
the  student-poet  had  been  unusually  quiet  while 
eating  his  cake  and  ice-cream. 

"I  have — er — just  composed  a  little  poem  in 
honor  of  Max's  birthday,"  answered  Songbird. 
"If  you'd  like  me  to  recite " 

"Sure    thing!" 

"Turn  on  the  poetry  spigot,  Songbird,  and  let 
her  flow !" 

"This  is  not  yet  finished.    But,— but " 


'144  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Give  us  what  you  have,"  said  Spud,  and  clear- 
ing his  throat  several  times,  Songbird  began, 

"Once  more  a  year  has  rolled  around — 

As  years  have  rolled  before — 
Once  more  we  greet  our  loving  friend— 

A  true  friend  to  the  core! 
.We  hope  that  in  the  future  he 

Will  win  success  and  fame, 
And  go  down  in  our  history 

A  noble " 

Bang!  came  the  report  of  a  gun,  and  the  shot 
was  so  unexpected  that  Songbird  forgot  what  he 
was  going  to  say,  and  all  those  at  the  feast  sprang 
to  their  feet.  Bang!  came  a  second  report. 

"What  does  that  mean?"  cried  Stanley.  "Who 
is  firing  a  gun  this  time  of  night?" 

"I  think  I  know  what  it  means!"  exclaimed 
Dick,  leaping  for  the  door.  "Come  on,  if  you 
want  to  save  the  Dartaway!"  he  went  f  n,  to  his 
brothers. 


CHAPTER  XV 

A  PERILOUS  SLIGHT 

WITHOUT  waiting  to  get  a  hat  or  an  extra 
coat,  Dick  dashed  through  the  long  corridor  and 
down  the  broad  stairs  of  the  dormitory  and  Tom 
came  at  his  heels. 

"What's  the  matter?"  cried  Spud,  grabbing 
Sam,  just  as  the  youngest  Rover  boy  was  about 
to  follow  his  brothers. 

'Til  tell  you  when  we  get  back,"  answered 
Sam.  "Don't  stop  me  now,  please,  I  may  be 
wanted. " 

"Want  any  help?"  put  in  Songbird,  who  for  the 
moment  had  forgotten  what  he  was  about  to  re- 
cite. 

"I  don't  know — but  I  guess  not." 

"We'll  go  along  anyhow,"  came  from  Max, 
and  took  after  Sam,  while  several  others  did  the 
same. 

In  the  meantime  Dick  and  Tom  had  gained  the. 
lower  hallway  of  the  dormitory.  The  door  was 
145 


146  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

fastened,  but  the  key  was  in  the  lock  and  they 
soon  had  the  portal  open  and  they  leaped  out- 
side. Then  both  started  in  the  direction  of  the 
gymnasium  shed. 

"See  anybody?"  cried  Tom. 
>     "No,  it's  too  dark,"  answered  Dick.    "But  that 
must  have  been  Abner  Filbury's  gun." 

The  two  reports  from  the  shotgun  had  aroused 
many  in  various  buildings  around  the  campus,  and 
windows  were  being  raised  and  heads  thrust  out. 

"What's  the  trouble?" 

"Who  fired  those  shots?" 

"Is  it  a  joke?" 

"There  go  two  of  the  Rovers!" 

"Are  they  up  to  some  trick?" 

"More  than  likely.  You  can't  keep  Tom  Rover 
quiet." 

So  the  comments  ran  on,  while  Dick  and  Tom 
sped  in  the  direction  of  the  shed.  As  they  came 
closer  they  received  a  sudden  challenge  from  the 
big  doorway. 

"Hi!  don't  you  dare  to  come  back  here,  or  I'll 
, shoot  you!"  The  words  were  uttered  by  Abner 
~!Filbury,  who  stood  there,  shotgun  in  hand  and 
lantern  by  his  side. 

"Don't  shoot!"  ordered  Dick.  "It  is  I,  Dick 
Rover!  What's  the  trouble?" 

"Oh,  so  it's  you,  Mr.  Rover!"  returned  the 


A  PERILOUS  FLIGHT  147 

janitor's  son,  with  a  sigh  of  relief.  "I  was  afraid 
them  pesky  rascals  was  a-coming  back." 

"What  rascals?" 

"The  fellers  as  got  at  the  airship  while  I  was 
asleep.  But  I  guess  they  didn't  get  no  chance  to 
hurt  anything,"  went  on  Abner,  hastily. 

"Who  were  they?"  asked  Tom. 

"I  don't  know.  They  had  rags  tied  over  their 
faces,  so  I  couldn't  see  'em." 

"How  many  of  them  were  there?"  questioned 
Dick. 

"Two." 

"Are  you  sure  they  didn't  harm  anything?" 
went  on  the  eldest  Rover  boy,  as  he  entered  the 
shed. 

"No,  I  ain't  sure,  for  when  I  woke  up  they 
was  in  the  shed,  right  under  my  hammock.  I  got 
scared  and  I  blazed  away  at  the  roof,  and  then 
they  got  scared,  I  can  tell  you !  They  jumped  and 
let  out  a  yell,  and  ran  for  the  door,  and  I  got 
down  and  went  to  the  door  and  fired  the  other 
barrel  into  the  air,  as  a  warning.  Then  they  dis- 
appeared in  the  darkness." 

"I  guess  it  was "  began  Tom,  when  Dick 

'caught  hold  of  his  arm  and  silenced  him. 

"We'll  take  a  look  at  the  machine,"  said  the 
big  brother,  and  they  went  into  the  shed.  Kere 
they  were  soon  joined  by  Sam  and  the  others; 


148  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

and  soon  a  close  inspection  of  the  biplane  was  in 
progress. 

"I  don't  see  any  damage,"  said  Dick,  pres- 
ently. 

"Most  likely  they  didn't  have  time  to  do  any," 
replied  Tom. 

"I'm  glad  of  it,"  added  Sam,  with  a  sigh  of 
relief. 

"Who  would  be  so  mean?"  questioned  Stanley. 

"I've  got  my  suspicions,  but  I  won't  say  any- 
thing yet,"  answered  Dick. 

A  proctor  and  several  instructors  had  come 
down  to  the  shed,  and  the  situation  had  to  be 
explained  to  them.  All  thought  it  mean  that  any- 
body should  try  to  damage  the  flying  machine. 

"Perhaps  it  was  merely  a  boyish  trick,"  said 
Professor  Blackie.  "Let  us  hope  so." 

"Maybe,"  answered  Dick.  "Just  the  same,  I 
am  glad  that  I  placed  Filbury  on  guard."  And 
then  he  told  the  young  man  to  keep  a  closer  watch 
than  before,  and  this  Abner  promised  to  do. 
Then  the  boys  went  back  to  the  dormitory,  fin- 
ished the  feast,  and  went  to  bed. 

A  few  days  later  came  word  that  Dora  and  the 
Laning  girls  had  arrived  at  Hope  Seminary,  and 
the  Rovers,  of  course,  made  immediate  prepara- 
tions to  visit  them. 

"We'll  give  'em  a  surprise,"  said  Tom,  with  a 


A  PERILOUS  FLIGHT  149 

grin.  "We'll  visit  'em  in  the  Dartaway."  And 
this  the  other  brothers  readily  agreed  to  do. 

A  message  was  sent  to  the  three  girls,  request- 
4ing  them  to  meet  the  boys  at  a  certain  hour  on 
the  campus  of  the  seminary.  Then  the  Rovers 
got  the  Dartaway  in  readiness  for  the  trip,  polish- 
ing up  the  engine  and  working  parts  until  they 
shone  like  silver. 

"If  only  it  doesn't  rain,  or  blow  too  hard,"  said 
Sam,  when  all  was  in  readiness. 

"Oh,  we'll  go  anyway,"  cried  Tom. 

The  boys  had  purchased  regular  aviation  suits, 
which  looked  very  neat  and  professional-like.  The 
new  engine  was  in  place,  and  they  had  given  it  a 
good  try-out  and  had  found  that  it  worked  as 
well  as  the  other  and  gave  much  more  power. 

"I  think  we  could  carry  half  a  dozen  folks 
now,"  said  Sam,  after  a  trial  with  some  bags  of 
sand.  "She  takes  up  the  extra  weight  without  an 
effort." 

"Perhaps,  but  there  is  no  use  of  straining  the 
biplane,  or  the  engine  either,"  returned  Dick. 

The  morning  of  the  all-important  day  came 
tand  the  boys  found  the  wind  blowing  steadily 
from  the  west. 

"Rather  breezy  for  a  flight,"  was  Dick's  com- 
ment. 


I5o  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Do  you  think  it  will  rain?"  queried  Sam, 
anxiously. 

"Not  with  the  wind  from  that  quarter,  Sara, 
But  we  may  get  more  breeze  than  we  want." 

"Oh,  we  won't  mind  the  wind  a  bit,"  declared 
Tom,  who  never  wanted  anything  to  interfere 
with  his  pleasure. 

The  boys  had  their  regular  classes  to  attend 
during  the  morning,  and  also  one  recitation  after 
lunch.  But  by  half-past  two  all  were  free,  and 
after  donning  their  aviation  suits,  they  hurried 
to  the  shed  and  rolled  out  the  Dartazvay. 

"Pretty  breezy  and  no  mistake,"  remarked 
Dick,  as  he  gazed  anxiously  at  the  sky.  "I  don't 
know  about  this." 

"Oh,  don't  say  we  can't  go,  Dick!"  pleaded 
Sam. 

"Maybe  the  breeze  isn't  so  strong  high  up," 
came  from  Tom,  hopefully. 

"It  may  be  stronger,  Tom.  We  don't  want  to 
go  up  and  get  wrecked." 

"Oh,  the  Dartaway  won't  get  wrecked — not 
with  that  powerful  engine." 

Dick  hesitated.  He  did  not  like  that  strong 
breeze  in  the  least.  Yet  he  was  just  as  anxious 
as  his  brothers  to  visit  the  seminary  and  meet  the 
girls,  and  let  them  see  the  biplane.  And  there  was 
something  even  more  important  on  his  mind. 


A  PERILOUS  FLIGHT 

"Oh,  come  ahead,  and  take  a  chance!"  cried 
Tom.  "We'll  get  through  somehow!" 

"Just  what  I  say,"  declared  Sam. 

"Who  is  to  run  the  machine?"  asked  the  big 
brother. 

"I'll  run  her,  if  you  want  me  to,"  answered 
Tom,  promptly. 

"Oh,  I  was  only  thinking  of  the  honor,  Tom. 
I'm  not  afraid  to  try  it." 

"Oh,  you  go  ahead  and  do  it,"  put  in  Sam,  who 
knew  that  his  big  brother's  heart  was  set  on  show- 
ing Dora  what  he  could  do  with  the  flying  ma- 
chine. 

"We'll  go  up  and  try  it,"  answered  Dick,  at 
last.  "If  she  works  all  right,  I'll  head  her  for  the 
seminary;  otherwise  I'll  bring  her  down  again;" 
and  so  it  was  arranged. 

A  number  of  the  students  had  come  out  to  set 
the  flight  and  they  gave  a  cheer  as  the  big  biplane 
rushed  over  the  campus  and  then  arose  like  a 
bird  in  the  air.  As  the  machine  went  up,  Tom 
looked  to  one  side  and  saw  Dudd  Flockley  stand- 
ing on  the  campus,  in  company  with  a  student 
named  Andy  Yates.  Both  were  sneering  at  the 
Rovers  and  their  friends. 

"The  pair  that  tried  to  damage  the  machine," 
muttered  Tom  to  himself.  He  knew  that  since 
Larkspur  and  Koswell  had  left  Brill,  Flockley 


152  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

and  Yates  had  become  quite  friendly,  and  he  also 
knew  that  Yates  was  a  spendthrift  and  had  a 
reputation  far  from  good. 

Up  and  up  went  the  biplane,  guided  by  the 
steady  hand  and  keen  eye  of  Dick.  The  wind' 
rushed  over  the  canvas  planes  and  sang  merrily 
through  the  wire  stays.  The  engine  banged  away 
steadily,  and  the  propellers  left  only  a  blur  in  the 
air  as  they  kept  whizzing  around  and  around. 

"How  is  it,  Dick?"  asked  Sam,  after  a  full 
minute  had  passed,  and  they  were  turning  in 
a  big  circle. 

"Can't  tell  yet — pretty  gusty  and  full  of  holes," 
was  the  answer,  and  Dick  gritted  his  teeth  tightly 
and  took  a  firmer  hold  of  the  steering  wheel. 
Then  the  Dartaway  came  around  with  a  rush. 

"Wow!"  cried  Tom,  clutching  at  his  seat. 
"Say,  this  is  some  slant!" 

"Hold  tight!"  yelled  Dick. 

The  warning  came  none  too  soon,  for  a  gust 
of  wind  hit  the  biplane  and  all  but  made  it  "turn 
turtle,"  as  the  saying  goes.  But  Dick  was  on 
the  watch,  and  he  sent  the  tips  down,  and  soon 
the  machine  righted  itself.  Then  they  rushed 
away,  over  the  woods  beyond  the  college  build- 
ings. 

"Going?"  queried  Sam. 

"Are  you  game?"  asked  Dick,  grimly. 


A  PERILOUS  FLIGHT  153 

"Sure!" 

"What  about  it,  Tom?  Don't  go  if  you  don't 
think  it  is  best." 

"We'll  try  it,  Dick.  But  if  you  spill  us  out- 
well,  please  choose  a  soft  spot,  that's  all!"  went 
on  Tom,  who  had  to  have  his  joke,  even  in  such 
a  time  of  peril. 

To  take  that  trip,  with  such  a  wind  blowing, 
was  not  a  wise  move,  and  all  three  of  the  Rovers 
knew  it.  But  they  wanted  so  much  to  see  the 
girls,  and  show  them  the  biplane,  that  they  were 
willing  to  take  the  risk. 

On  and  on  sailed  the  Dartaway,  now  in  the 
teeth  of  the  breeze  and  then  with  the  wind  on 
the  quarter.  All  of  the  youths  clung  fast  con- 
stantly, for  their  was  great  danger  of  being 
pitched  into  space.  They  had  straps  for  fasten- 
ing themselves,  but  hated  to  use  these,  fearing 
that  they  might  get  in  some  position  where  a  quick 
jump  might  mean  safety.  If  they  were  strapped 
in,  and  the  biplane  fell,  they  might  be  crushed  to 
death  under  the  heavy  engine. 

Most  of  the  trip  was  made  in  the  face  of  the 
wind,  which,  every  instant,  seemed  to  grow 
stronger.  The  Dartaway  acted  like  a  thing  of 
life,  swooping  and  careening  from  one  side  to 
the  other.  Dick  had  to  manipulate  the  wheel  and 


154  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

the  levers  constantly,  to  keep  anything  like  an 
even  "keel." 

"Can  you  keep  to  the  course?"  questioned  Tom, 
after  about  half  the  distance  to  the  seminary  had 
been  covered. 

"I  don't  know — it  depends  on  the  wind,"  Dick 
replied.  "I  may  go  around  to  the  westward — it 
seems  to  be  better  sailing  that  way." 

In  the  end  they  had  to  make  a  wide  detour,  and 
Dick  was  wondering  how  he  was  going  to  turn 
in  the  direction  of  Hope  Seminary,  when  the  wind 
suddenly  died  down.  This  was  his  chance,  and 
on  the  instant  he  headed  directly  for  the  seminary. 

"There  it  is!"  cried  Sam,  presently.  "I  sec 
the  buildings!" 

"There  is  the  campus!"  added  Tom,  a  minute 
later.  "And  there  are  the  girls,  waving  banneri 
at  us!" 

"I  see  them!"  answered  Dick,  and  then  he  shut 
off  the  engine,  and  silently  and  with  the  grace  of 
a  big,  white  swan,  the  Dartaway  volplaned  to  the 
earth. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

DICK  AND  DORA 

"OH,  DICK,  how  lovely!" 

"Weren't  you  afraid,  Sam?" 

"What  a  big  flying  machine,  Tom!" 

Such  were  the  exclamations  from  Dora,  Grace 
and  Nellie,  as  all  rushed  forward  to  where  the 
boys  were  alighting  from  the  Dartaway.  Soon 
they  were  shaking  hands  all  around,  and  soon 
other  girl  students  were  coming  up,  to  learn  what 
the  arrival  of  the  flying  machine  meant. 

"Well,  we  certainly  had  a  great  trip,"  said 
Dick. 

"The  wind  was  pretty  strong,"  put  in  Sam. 

"Strongest  wind  you  ever  saw!"  declared  Tom, 
stoutly.  "Turned  us  over  about  'steen  times  and 
rolled  us  into  a  regular  ball." 

"Oh,  Tom,  what  an  idea!"  exclaimed  Nellie, 
and  begar  to  laugh.  "But  weren't  you  afraid?" 
she  went  on  anxiously. 

"What,  me?  Never!  But  Sam  was  so  afraid 
155 


156  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

he  shook  off  his  shoes,  and  one  of  'em  dropped 
right  on  a  cow,  and " 

"Tom  Rover!"  burst  out  Grace.  "What  a 
.story-teller  you  are!" 

"Well,  Grace,  if  you  don't  believe  it,  go  and 
ask  that  cow,"  went  on  the  fun-loving  Rover, 
soberly.  "It's  lucky  Sam  has  elastics  on  the 
shoes — to  pull  'em  back  by.  If  he  hadn't  had 

"  Tom  did  not  finish  but  shook  his  head 

mournfully. 

"I  am  so  glad  you  got  here  safely,  Dick,"  said 
Dora,  in  a  low  voice.  "But  oh,  do  you  think  it 
is  quite  safe?"  she  went  on,  anxiously.  "I — I 
don't  want  you  to  get  hurt!" 

"I  guess  it  is  safe  enough,  Dora,"  he  replied, 
not  wishing  to  alarm  her.  "It's  like  an  auto — 
you've  got  to  get  used  to  it. 

"I  don't  think  I'd  ever  get  used  to  a  flying 
machine." 

"Maybe  you  would.  Some  day  I'll  take  you  up 
and  you  can  see  how  you  like  it."  But  Dora 
shook  her  head  at  this. 

The  boys  had  hoped  to  have  a  quiet  time  with 
the  three  girls,  but  this  was  not  to  be  just  then. 
The  students  of  the  seminary  gathered  around, 
and  the  lads  were  kept  busy  explaining  about  the 
biplane,  and  how  the  engine  and  the  steering  gear 
worked.  Then,  to  show  that  they  could  run  the 


DICK  AND  DORA  157 

T)artaway  as  well  as  Dick,  Tom  took  the  machine 
up  and  Sam  followed  him,  each  making  several 
circles  around  the  campus. 

"Any  girls  want  to  go  up?"  questioned  Tom. 
"Now  don't  please  all  speak  at  once."  There  was 
a  general  giggle,  but  nobody  accepted  the  invita- 
tion. Then  the  Rovers  turned  to  those  they  had 
come  to  visit,  and,  taking  the  hint,  the  other  girl 
students  sauntered  away. 

"Wouldn't  you  like  some  refreshments?"  asked 
Dora.  "We  might  get  some  hot  coffee  and  some 
cake." 

"No,  we'll  have  to  get  back  before  dark,"  an- 
swered Dick.  "So  we'll  just  stay  and  talk  awhile. 
Any  special  news  from  home?" 

"No.  Mamma  is  going  away  for  her  health, 
and  Mrs.  Laning  is  going  with  her." 

"I  hope  they  go  where  old  Crabtree  and  Sob- 
ber  can't  find  them." 

"That  is  what  they  are  going  to  try  to  do, 
Dick.  Oh,  dear,  I  wish  those  people  would  never 
come  near  us  again!" 

"They  are  up  near  our  home  now,"  answered 
the  eldest  Rover  boy,  and  told  about  the  old  mill. 

"Whatever  are  they  up  to  now,  do  you  think, 
Dick?" 

"I  can't  imagine.  We  are  all  awaiting  devel- 
opments." 


158  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Your  folks  ought  to  be  on  guard." 
"They  are  on  guard — and  dad  has  hired  a  de- 
tective to  keep  his  eye  on  Crabtree  and  Sobber." 
"What  about  your  father,  Dick?     You  wrote 
that  he  was  worried  over  some  business  matter." 
"He  is,  and  Uncle  Randolph  is  worried,  too, 
Dora.     It's  some  business  you  wouldn't  under- 
stand— something  about  some  western  investment. 
You  see  dad  and  uncle  are  getting  old  and  they 
can't  watch  things  as  they  used  to — and  Uncle 
Randolph  is  all  wrapped  up  in  scientific  farming, 
just  as  he  always  was.     I  sometimes  think  it's 
time  I  took  hold  of  business  matters  and  helped 
them." 

"Then  you'd  have  to  leave  Brill,  wouldn't  you?" 

Yes;  but  I'd  not  mind  that — I  have  a  pretty 
good  education  even  now,  and  I  could  study  in 
my  spare  moments.  I  could  take  a  short  course, 
instead  of  one  of  the  long  ones.  And  then,  Dora, 
that  would  help  out  another  way,"  went  on  Dick 
in  a  lower  voice,  and  looking  over  his  shoulder 
to  make  sure  that  the  others  were  not  listening. 
But  the  others  had  walked  off  to  tli*  rear  of  the 
big  biplane. 

"Another  way?  How?"  And  Dora  looked  at 
hona  wonderingly. 

"Oh,  you  know  well  enough." 

"No,  I  don't,"  she  replied;  but  two  bright  spots 


DICK  AND  DORA  159 

began  to  show  in  her  pretty  cheeks,  making  her 
orettier  than  ever. 

"Well,  I  made  up  my  mind  that  as  soon  as  I 
kft  college  I  was  going  to  get  married,"  Dick 
went  on,  looking  her  full  in  the  eyes. 

"Oh,  Dick!"  And  now  she  cast  her  eyes  on; 
the  ground. 

"Sure.  Don't  you  think  it's  a  good  idea?"  he 
went  on,  and  he  caught  her  hand  and  held  it. 

"Oh,  I — I "    She  blushed  more  than  ever 

and  could  not  go  on. 

"I  know  we  are  not  so  very  old,  Dora,  but,  on 
the  other  hand,  we  are  not  so  very  young  either, 
and  I  think  your  mother  would  approve,  and  I 
am  sure  my  father  wouldn't  object.  I  know  he 
thinks  you  are  just  the  finest  girl  in  the  whole 
world, — he  said  so." 

"Well,  mamma  likes  you,  too,  Dick, — she's 
told  me  that  many  times." 

"Then  I'm  sure  she  won't  object.  And,  be- 
sides, when  I'm  hef  son-in-law  I'll  be  able  to  do  a 
good  deal  more  than  I  can  now — about  helping 
her  with  her  financial  affairs,  and  all  that,  you 
know." 

"Yes,  I  know  that,  too." 

"And  so  I  think  we  ought  to  get  married.  But, 
of  course,  if  you  object,  Dora- " 


l6o  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Did  I  object  ?"  And  she  smiled  just  a  little — 
a  smile  that  set  his  heart  bounding. 

"Then  you'll  consent?"  he  asked  eagerly.  "Will 
you?  Say  yes,  won't  you?"  And  now  he  had 
hold  of  both  of  her  hands  and  was  looking  her 
full  in  the  eyes.  "I  want  you  so  much,  Dora,~- 
I've  wanted  you  ever  since  I  first  met  you — on 
that  little  steamboat,  on  the  way  to  Putnam  Hall. " 

"Oh,  Dick,  what  an  idea!  Why,  you  hardly 
knew  me  then!" 

"Never  mind,  I  knew  you  well  enough." 

"What  a  long  time  ago  that  was,"  murmured 
the  girl.  She  was  still  gazing  fully  into  his  eyes. 

"Yes,  it  was  a  long  time  ago,  and  yet,  somehow, 
it  seems  an  awfully  short  time,  too.  But,  Dora, 
you  haven't  said  yes  yet.  Won't  you  please  say 
yes?"  he  pleaded,  in  a  lower  voice,  as  Tom  and 
the  others  started  to  rejoin  them. 

"Yes,"  she  murmured,  her  face  becoming  a 
rosy  red.  "Yes.  Any  time  you  say,  Dick,  if 
mamma  is  willing." 

"You  dear,  dear  girl!"  he  cried  softly.  "Oh,  I 
just  wish  I  had  you  all  to  myself  for  a  moment!" 
A.nd  he  gave  her  a  look  that  spoke  volumes. 

"Well,  we've  got  to  get  back,  that  is  all  there  is. 
to  it,"  came  from  Sam  loudly.  He  could  not  help 
but  notice  how  confidential  Dick  and  Dora  were 
becoming. 


DICK  AND  DORA  161 

Td  like  to  stay,  but  we've  got  to  make  the  trip 
before  it  gets  too  dark,"  added  Tom. 

"Just  as  you  say,"  answered  Dick,  although  he 
did  not,  just  then,  see  how  he  was  going  to  tear 
himself  away. 

But  the  boys  did  not  leave  for  a  good  quarter 
of  an  hour,  and  during  that  time,  Dick  and  Dora 
somehow  managed  to  walk  to  the  end  of  the 
campus,  where  there  were  big  clumps  of  rose 
bushes  and  lilac  shrubbery.  Once  in  the  shadow 
of  these  Dick  pulled  something  from  a  pocket  and 
held  it  out  to  Dora. 

"If  we  are  going  to  be  regularly  engaged,  you 
must  have  this,"  he  said. 

"Oh,  Dick,  a  diamond  ring!"  she  cried,  as  the 
glint  of  the  jewel  caught  her  eyes. 

"Hold  out  your  hand,  dear,"  he  said,  and  when 
she  held  it  out  he  placed  the  ring  on  her  finger. 
Then  he  took  her  in  his  arms. 

"Mine,  Dora,  mine,  always  and  forever  mine!" 

"Always  and  forever,  Dick!"  she  answered. 
And  then  they  kissed  each  other. 

When  they  rejoined  the  others  each  felt  as  if 
walking  on  air. 

"But  the  ring — they'll  be  sure  to  see  it,  Dick!" 
whispered  Dora. 

"If  they  don't  I  shall  be  disappointed, "  he  an- 
swered. 


162  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

It  was  Grace  who  espied  the  glittering  circlet 
first  and  she  uttered  a  slight  shriek.  Then  she 
pointed  it  out  to  her  sister. 

"A  diamond  ring — an  engagement  ring!'1  she 
cried. 

"Oh,  how  lovely!"  exclaimed  Nellie. 

"Ladies  and  gentlemen,  the  future  Mrs.  Dick 
Rover!"  said  Dick,  just  a  bit  awkwardly,  while 
Dora  blushed  the  color  of  a  peony. 

"Oh,  DoraF'cried  Grace  and  Nellie,  in  chorus, 
and  then  each  kissed  her. 

"I  thought  I  smelt  a  mouse,"  murmured  Sam. 

"Hail  to  the  bride!"  cried  Tom.  "Say,  Dick, 
isn't  it  proper  to  salute  your  future  sister-in-law?" 
he  went  on,  with  a  broad  grin. 

"I  don't  know — better  ask  her,"  replied  Dick, 
good-naturedly,  and  then  Tom  kissed  Dora,  and 
Sam  did  the  same  thing.  After  that  Tom  de- 
clared he  ought  to  kiss  the  "bride-to-be's  cousins," 
and  started  in,  and  Sam  followed. 

"Here,  you  kids  break  away!"  cried  Dick  fi- 
nally. "I  thought  you  said  we  had  to  get  back 
before  dark." 

"  'Kids'  indeed !"  snorted  Tom.  "My,  how  old 
'we've  gotten  since  we're  engaged!"  And  then  he 
•grinned  more  than  ever.  "But  never  mind,"  he 
went  on  to  Nellie,  in  a  whisper.  "Just  you  wait 
and  see  the  diamond  ring  I  get  you  one  of  these 


"OH,    DICK,    A   DIAMOND   RING!"    SHE  CRIED.  —Page  161. 
The  Rover  Boys  in  the  Air. 


DICK  AND  DORA  163 

days."  And  this  remark  made  Nellie  blush  as 
deeply  as  had  Dora.  Sam  said  something,  too, 
to  Grace  about  a  ring,  at  which  she  laughed 
merrily  and  slapped  his  face.  But  when  the  boys 
(were  in  the  biplane  and  ready  to  sail  away,  and 
he  held  up  a  finger  with  a  ring  on  it  and  looked 
at  her  questioningly — and  longingly — she  gave  a 
quick  little  nod  of  her  curly  head. 

"All  ready?"  asked  Dick,  at  last. 

"All  ready!"  replied  his  brothers. 

"Then  start  her  up!"  cried  the  oldest  Rover 
boy,  and  the  others  gave  a  turn  to  the  propellers. 
Bang!  bang!  bang!  went  the  engine,  and  Sam  and 
Tom  rushed  to  their  seats. 

"Come  again  soon!"  cried  the  girls. 

"Just  as  soon  as  we  can!"  was  the  answer. 

"Be  careful!"  pleaded  Dora.  "Please,  please 
be  careful!" 

"We'll  look  out — don't  worry,"  answered  Dick. 
He  had  to  shout,  to  make  himself  heard  above  the 
noise  of  the  motor.  Then  came  the  usual  whizz 
and  rush,  and  a  few  seconds  later  the  Rover  boys 
were  once  more  in  the  air  and  bound  for  Brill. 

Dick  would  have  been  pleased  could  he  have 
allowed  his  mind  to  linger  on  the  conversation  he 
had  had  with  Dora,  but  he  soon  found  this  out 
of  the  question.  The  wind  had  come  up  again, 
and  was  now  blowing  as  strongly  as  ever,  and  he 


164  THE  ROVER  SOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

had  all  he  could  do  to  manage  the  Darfaway. 
Soon  the  big  biplane  commenced  to  pitch  and  toss 
like  a  small  boat  on  the  bosom  of  an  angry  ocean. 

"Say,  this  is  getting  something  fierce!"  was 
Sam's  comment,  after  a  particularly  thrilling  dip. 
"I  thought  we  were  going  right  down  that  time." 

"You  hold  tight!"  yelled  Dick.  "Don't  let  go 
for  an  instant." 

"I'm  as  tight  as  glue,"  was  the  reply. 

"Hadn't  you  better  go  up  a  bit,  Dick?"  came 
from  Tom. 

"Just  what  I  thought  of  doing,"  was  the  an- 
swer. 

The  rudders  were  shifted,  and  swiftly  the  bi- 
plan  mounted  through  space.  It  was  now  grow- 
ing dark,  and  presently  the  panorama  that  had 
been  below  them,  vanished  from  view. 

"Huh !  this  won't  do !"  cried  Dick.  "1  can't  see 
how  to  steer." 

"Steer  by  the  wind  for  awhile,"  suggested  Sam. 

A  minute  later  came  a  fierce  gust  of  wind,  fol- 
lowed by  a  second  and  then  a  third.  Around  spun 
the  biplane  and  then  tilted  up  as  if  about  to  go 
over.  Then  came  an  unexpected  ripping  and  tear- 
ing sound. 

"It's  the  left  plane — it's  torn  loose!"  yeHed 
Sam.  "Let  her  down,  Dick,  before  it  is  too  late ! 
If  you  don't,  we'll  drop  to  our  death!" 


CHAPTER  XVII 

CAUGHT  IN  A  HAILSTORM 

ALL  of  the  Rover  boys  realized  their  extreme 
peril,  yet  for  the  moment  they  were  powerless 
to  do  anything  to  help  themselves.  Dick  put  out 
his  hand  to  stop  the  engine  of  the  biplane,  then 
concluded  that  it  might  be  more  advantageous  to 
keep  the  propellers  moving. 

Around  and  around  spun  the  flying  machine, 
tossed  like  a  chip  on  an  angry  ocean.  All  grew 
dark  about  the  three  boys  and  each  gave  himself 
up  for  lost.  It  was  useless  to  attempt  to  steer, 
so  Dick  held  the  craft  as  she  was,  so  far  as  the 
wheel  was  concerned. 

Then  came  a  sudden,  sickening  drop  and  a  tilt- 
,  ing  to  one  side.  Sam  let  out  a  wild  yell,  but  what 
he  said  was  drowned  out  in  the  roaring  of  the 
(wind  and  the  noise  of  the  engine.  Then,  of  a 
sudden,  the  Dartaway  dove  forward  and  the  gust 
of  air  was  left  behind.  They  came  into  a  "hole," 
as  it  is  termed  by  aviators,  and  again  they  sank. 

165 


THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

But  now  Dick  was  gaining  control  once  more 
and  he  tilted  the  front  rudder  and  up  they  went 
for  a  hundred  feet,  but  in  something  of  a  circle, 
because  of  the  broken  plane. 

"Can't  you  land?"  gasped  Tom.  "We  can't— 
can't— stand — this!" 

"I'll  do  what  I  can,"  replied  Dick,  between  his 
set  teeth.  He  knew  that  their  very  lives  de- 
pended on  how  he  handled  the  biplane. 

Slowly  and  with  great  caution  Dick  allowed 
the  Dartaway  to  get  closer  to  the  earth.  Each  of 
the  boys  strained  his  eyes,  to  catch  sight  of  what 
might  be  below.  Then  came  another  gust,  and 
this  was  followed  by  a  strange  rattling  on  the  bi- 
plane. Small,  white  objects  were  bouncing  in 
all  directions. 

"It's  hail!"  cried  Sam.  "We've  struck  a  hail 
squall!" 

He  was  right,  and  the  hail  continued  to  come 
down  all  around  them,  driven  by  a  sweeping  wind 
that  carried  the  Dartaway  hither  and  thitker.  But 
it  was  one  of  those  sudden  squalls  that  do  not 
last  long,  and  soon  they  were  sailing  in  the  clear 
air  again,  and  now  within  view  of  the  ground 
below. 

"There  is  a  fine  field — to  the  right,"  cried  Tom. 

Dick  nodded  and,  not  without  an  effort,  brought 
the  biplane  around.  Then  he  shut  off  the  motor* 


CAUGtIT  IN  A  HAILSTORM  167 

and  they  slid  to  earth  quicker  than  they  had  an- 
ticipated. The  Dartaway  struck  the  ground  and 
bounced  up  and  down  several  times  on  its  rubber- 
jtired  wheels  and  then  came  to  a  standstill  in  the 
.midst  of  some  brushwood.  Poor  Sam  was  thrown 
out  heels  over  head  into  the  bushes. 

"Are  you  hurt?"  sang  out  Dick,  anxiously.  It 
was  so  dark  he  could  not  see  what  had  become  of 
his  youngest  brother. 

"I — I  guess  not!"  came  back  from  Sam,  and 
he  started  to  scramble  out  of  the  bushes.  "Say, 
that  was  some  sail,  wasn't  it?"  he  continued. 

"No  more  like  that  for  me!"  returned  Tom, 
panting  like  a  race  horse.  "Are  you  O.  K., 
Dick?" 

"Yes,  although  that  bumping  shook  me  up. 
But  come,  fasten  the  Dartaivay  down  before  the 
wind  comes  up  again  and  blows  it  to  kingdom 
come!" 

This  warning  was  necessary  for  the  wind  was 
still  fitful  and  there  was  no  telling  how  strong 
it  might  become.  All  sprang  fo-rward  to  do  what 
they  could  to  save  the  biplane  from  destruction. 

"If  there  was  a  barn  handy  we  might  use  that," 
said  Sam. 

They  looked  around,  but  the  only  building 
nearby  was  a  small  cottage,  evidently  one  used 
by  a  farmer's  hired  hands. 


THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Run  her  around  between  the  bushes,"  directed 
Dick.  "They  will  protect  her  a  little,  for  the 
bushes  are  quite  high." 

They  found  a  spot  between  the  undergrowth 
and  into  it  forced  the  biplane,  until  the  air 
craft  was  completely  surrounded.  The  bushes 
broke  the  force  of  the  wind  and  the  lads  had  little 
difficulty  in  tying  the  machine  fast  with  the  ropes 
they  always  carried.  It  was  hailing  again,  al- 
though not  so  heavily  as  before.  The  wind  was 
gradually  going  down,  but  the  sky  was  as  dark 
and  threatening  as  ever. 

"I  think  it  will  turn  into  rain  before  very  long," 
said  Dick,  after  a  look  around.  "Too  bad  it 
couldn't  have  held  off  half  an  hour  longer.  Then 
we'd  have  been  safe  at  Brill." 

"I'm  thankful  we  got  down  safely,  Dick,"  said 
Sam. 

"Oh,  so  am  I!" 

"It  was  a  narrow  escape,**  was  Tom's  com- 
ment. "Great  hambones!  Who  would  have 
thought  we'd  run  into  such  weather  as  this!" 

"Oh,  hailstorms  like  this  are  not  uncommon, 
even  in  midsummer,"  answered  Dick.  "Don't 
you  remember  the  one  that  came  and  cut  down 
our  corn  some  years  ago?" 

"Yes,  and  broke  all  the  glass  in  the  hothouse," 


CAUGHT  IN  A  HAILSTORM  169 

added  Sam.    "Say,  is  the  machine  hurt  much?" 
he  went  on. 

"We'll  have  to  make  an  examination." 
1     They  looked  the  biplane  over  as  best  they  ccmid 
Jin  the  semi-darkness.     One  of  the  bamboo  poles 
had  been  split  and  two  of  the  canvas  stretches 
were  slit  from  end  to  end. 

"Not  as  bad  as  it  might  be,"  said  Dick.  "We 
can  easily  mend  the  canvas.  But  I  guess  we  had 
better  get  a  new  pole  in  place  of  that  one.  I'd 
not  care  to  trust  it,  even  if  it  were  wired." 

"Perhaps  we  can  wire  it  good  enough  to  get 
back  to  Brill  with,"  returned  Tom.  "We  can't 
stay  here." 

"I've  had  enough  sailing  for  to-day!"  cried 
Sam.  "Let  us  walk  back,  or  get  a  carriage,  and 
leave  the  biplane  here  until  some  fine  day  when 
there  is  no  wind." 

"Yes,  we  can't  use  her  any  more  to-day,"  said 
Dick.  "Let  us  cover  the  engine  and  walk  to  that 
cottage  and  find  out  just  where  we  are,  and  how 
we  can  get  to  Brill." 

Having  arranged   everything  as   well   as   the 

means  at  hand  permitted,  the  three  Rover  boys 

'left  the  vicinity  of  the  brushwood  and  walked 

over  to  where  the  small  cottage  was  located.    The 

ground  was  covered  with  hailstones  and  Tom 


170  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

could  not  resist  the  temptation  to  gather  up  a 
handful  and  pelt  his  brothers. 

"Stop  it!"  cried  Sam,  and  then,  as  Tom  would 
not  stop,  he  rushed  in  with  some  of  the  hailstones 
in  his  hand  and  allowed  them  to  slide  down  inside 
0f  Tom's  collar. 

"Wow!"  roared  the  fun-loving  Rover.  "Let 
up,  Sam!  That  feels  as  if  I'd  hit  the  North 
Pole!" 

"Then  you  let  up,"  answered  Sam,  firmly;  and 
after  that  Tom  let  the  hailstones  alone. 

As  they  neared  the  cottage  they  saw  that  a 
lantern  was  lit  and  set  on  a  table  in  the  centre  of 
the  living  room.  Around  the  table  sat  three  per- 
sons, two  young  fellows  and  an  older  man,  evi- 
dently a  farmer.  The  three  were  smoking  and 
playing  cards,  and  on  the  table  lay  some  bank- 
bills. 

"Why,  look  at  this!"  cried  Dick,  in  astonish- 
ment. Then  he  added  quickly :  "Get  out  of  sight, 
don't  show  yourselves!"  And  he  caught  each  of 
his  brothers  by  the  arm  and  led  the  pair  to  the 
rear  of  the  building. 

"What's  up,  Dick?"  asked  Sam.  "Who  were 
they?" 

"Didn't  you  recognize  those  young  fellows ?" 

"I  did!"  cried  Tom,  in  a  low  voice.  "They 
were  Jerry  Koswell  and  Bart  Larkspur!" 


C4UGHT  IN  A  HAILSTORM  171 

"Koswell    and    Larkspur!"    exclaimed    Sam. 
"Are  you  sure?" 
>    "Tom  is  right,"  replied  Dick. 

"Who  was  the  third  fellow?" 

"I  don't  know.  He  looked  like  a  farmer  t<* 
me." 

"Did  you  see  the  money  on  the  table?"  broke 
out  Tom.  "They  must  have  been  gambling!" 

"It  looked  that  way  to  me,  Tom." 

"If  they  were,  all  I've  got  to  say,  that  thira 
fellow  better  look  out  for  Koswell  and  Larkspur," 
continued  Tom.  "They  are  sharpers  at  cards,  so 
Dudd  Flockley  once  told  me.  He  said  they  got 
him  to  put  up  his  money  a  number  of  times  and 
each  time  they  won.  He  was  inclined  to  think 
they  didn't  play  fairly." 

"Well,  knowing  them  as  we  do,  I'd  say  they 
wouldn't  be  above  cheating,"  said  Sam.  "But 
what  in  the  world  can  they  be  doing  in  this  out-of- 
the-way  place?" 

"That  remains  to  be  found  out,"  replied  his 
big  brother.  "Maybe  they  were  on  the  road  and 
ran  here  for  shelter  from  the  hailstorm." 

"I'm  not  afraid  of  them,  Dick,"  said  TOITL 

"Neither  am  I,  Tom,  you  know  that." 

"Then  'vhat's  the  use  of  keeping  out  of  sight? 
I'd  rather  go  in  there  and  give  them  a  thrashing, 
like  the  one  we  gave  them  on  that  island." 


172  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Don't  forget  we  have  the  Dartaway  here  and 
they  might  take  pleasure  in  ruining  the  craft 
or  running  off  with  her.  Besides,  I'd  like  to 
watch  them  a  bit  and  find  out  a  little  about  their 
plans.  Remember,  they  want  to  play  us  some 
dirty  trick." 

"There  they  go!"  burst  out  Sam,  at  that  in- 
stant, and  motioned  to  the  front  of  the  cottage 
All  looked  in  the  direction  he  pointed  out,  to  see 
Koswell  and  Larkspur  hurrying  down  a  lane  that 
led  to  a  road  running  between  the  trees. 

"You  come  back  here!  That  wasn't  fair!" 
shouted  the  farm  hand  who  had  been  playing 
cards  with  them.  "Comeback!"  And  he  rushed 
to  the  front  door  of  the  cottage  and  waved  his 
arm  wildly. 

"It  was  fair!"  shouted  back  Jerry  Koswell. 

"Sure  it  was  fair!"  added  Bart  Larkspur. 
"We'd  come  back,  only  we  are  in  a  hurry." 

"You  cheated  me!"  stormed  the  farm  hand  and 
shook  his  fist  at  the  pair.  But  they  paid  no  fur- 
ther attention,  and  soon  the  darkness  and  a  bend 
of  the  road  hid  them  from  view. 

The  Rover  boys  waited  a  few  seconds  and  then 
knocked  oa.the  back  door  of  the  cottage.  The 
farm  hand,  a  fellow  named  Dan  Murdock. 
stamped  over  to  the  door  and  threw  it  open. 


CAUGHT  IN  A  HAILSTORM 


173 


"What  do  you  want?"  he  asked  surlily.  The 
loss  of  his  money  had  made  him  ill-tempered. 

"Why,  hello,  Murdock!"  cried  Sam.  "I  didn't 
know  you  lived  here." 

"Oh,  so  it's  you,  Rover,"  answered  the  farm 
hand.  He  remembered  that  he  had  once  given* 
Sam  a  ride  and  had  been  well  paid  for  it.  "Caught 
in  the  hailstorm?"  he  went  on,  a  bit  more  pleas- 
antly. 

"Yes.  These  are  my  brothers,"  added  Sam. 
"We  were  out  and  we  got  lost.  Can  you  tell  us 
the  best  road  to  the  college?" 

"Of  course.  Walk  through  the  woods  back 
there.  Then  take  the  road  to  the  left  and  at  the 
cross  roads  turn  to  the  right.  You'll  see  the 
signs,  so  you  can't  go  wrong." 

"And  how  far  is  it?" 

"About  two  miles.  You  can  take  the  road 
yonder,  too,  but  that's  about  a  mile  longer." 

"Do  you  live  here?"  asked  Dick,  curiously. 

"I  sleep  here — me  and  two  other  hands.  We 
get  our  meals  up  to  Mr.  Dawson's  house — the  man 
we  work  for." 

"Oh,  then  this  is  the  Dawson  farm?"  Dick 
remembered  that  Mr.  Dawson  supplied  butter 
and  eggs  to  the  college. 

"Yes,  sir." 

"I'm  glad  to  know  that,  for  we  need  some  help* 


174  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

We  were  out  in  our  flying  machine  and  had  to 
come  down  over  there.  We'll  want  somebody  to 
look  after  the  machine  until  we  can  fix  it  up  and 
take  it  away.  Of  course  we'll  pay  for  what's 
'done,"  he  added. 

1  "Oh,  I  heard  tell  of  that  flying  machine!" 
exclaimed  the  farm  hand.  "You  sailed  over  this 
farm  a  couple  of  hours  ago." 

He  was  much  interested  and  wanted  to  know 
all  about  the  trip,  and  about  the  machine.  He  said 
Mr.  Dawson  was  away,  but  that  the  Dartaivay 
could  be  wheeled  up  into  one  of  the  big  barns 
and  left  there  until  repaired.  Then  he  agreed  to 
get  out  a  two-seated  carriage  and  drive  the  boys 
over  to  Brill.  Inside  of  half  an  hour  the  biplane 
was  safely  housed,  and  the  whole  party  was  on 
the  way  to  the  college. 

Dick  had  warned  Sam  and  Tom  to  remain 
silent  concerning  Koswell  and  Larkspur,  and  it 
was  not  until  they  were  almost  to  Brill  that  he 
mentioned  the  fact  that  they  had  seen  the  pair 
running  away  from  the  cottage. 

"Seen  'em,  did  you?"  cried  Dan  Murdock. 
"Say,  them  fellers  are  swindlers,  they  are!  They 
came  in  to  git  out  of  the  hail  and  then  they 
started  to  play  cards,  just  to  while  away  the  time, 
so  they  said.  They  asked  me  to  play,  and  as  I 
couldn't  work  just  then,  I  consented,  and  then 


CAUGHT  IN  A  HAILSTORM 

they  got  me  to  put  up  some  money, — just  to  make 
,lt  interestin',  they  said.  They  let  me  win  a  little 
at  first,  and  then  they  got  me  to  put  up  more  and 
more,  and  then  they  cheated  me  and  wiped  me 
out!" 

"And  how  much  did  they  get  from  you?" 
asked  Dick. 

"Thy  got  nearly  all  my  savings — eighty  dol- 
lars!" answered  Dan  Murdock,  grimly. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

TOM  AND  HIS  FUN 

"Go*  eighty  dollars  from  you!*'  murmured 
Dick.  "That's  too  bad!" 

"It  would  be  bad  enough  if  I  lost  it  fairly,"  an- 
swered the  farm  hand.  "But  I  am  sure  they 
swindled  me." 

"Well,  you  ought  not  to  gamble,"  put  in  Sam, 
who  had  listened  to  the  talk  with  interest. 

"I  suppose  that's  true,"  mumbled  Dan  Mur- 
dock.  "But  they  said  I  might  win  a  pile.  Oh,  I 
was  a  big  fool — I  know  it  now,  even  if  I  didn't 
know  it  then.  I  wish  I  had  stopped  'em  from 
leaving." 

"Why  didn't  you?" 

"They  went  so  sudden  like — after  they  had  my 
money.  One  of  'em  took  out  his  watch  and  said 
they'd  miss  the  train,  and  away  they  started  be- 
fore you  could  say  Jack  Robinson!  But  there 
ain't  no  train  this  time  o'  day." 

"It  was  a  trick  to  get  away,"  said  Tom. 
176 


TOM  AND  HIS  FUN  177 

"Sure — I  know  that,  now!  Oh,  if  only  I  had 
my  hands  on  'em.  Say,  they  don't  belong  at 
Brill,  do  they?"  went  on  the  farm  hand  eagerly. 

"No,  although  they  used  to  go  there,"  answered 
Dick. 

"Then  you  saw  'em?" 

"Yes,  we  saw  them  running  away." 

"What  are  their  names?"  and  when  Dick  had 
mentioned  them  Dan  Murdock  shook  his  head 
slowly. 

"I've  heard  of  'em  before,"  he  said.  "They 
used  to  hang  around  at  the  tavern.  I  was  a  big 
fool,  no  two  ways  about  it!  I  guess  they'll  keep 
out  of  my  sight  after  this." 

"More  than  likely,"  answered  Dick. 

When  the  boys  arrived  at  the  college  they 
found  an  anxious  crowd  looking  for  them  and  the 
biplane.  Songbird  and  Stanley  and  several  others 
rushed  to  the  carriage  to  greet  them. 

"Were  you  wrecked?" 

"Did  you  get  a  bad  tumble?" 

"Where  did  you  come  down?" 

So  the  questions  ran  on  and  the  boys  had  to 
answer  as  best  they  could.  Everybody  seemed 
to  be  glad  to  learn  that  they  had  escaped  from  the 
fury  of  the  sudden  hailstorm — that  is,  everybody 
but  Dudd  Flockley  and  his  new  crony,  Andy 
Yates. 


THE  ROVER  BOYS  Iff  THE  AIR 

"Just  like  the  Rovers'  luck,"  muttered  Flock!<% 
sourly.  "They'd  escape  where  everybody  else 
would  be  smashed  up." 

"Oh,  they'll  get  a  smash,  if  you  give  "em  time 
enough,"  answered  Andy  Yates,  heartlessly.  He 
was  a  student  who  courted  attention  and  it  galled 
him  to  see  the  Rovers  the  center  of  attraction. 

As  soon  as  Dick,  Tom  and  Sam  could  get  time 
to  do  so,  they  sent  a  message  to  Hope  Seminary, 
informing  the  girls  that  they  had  gotten  back  to 
Brill  in  safety.  This  relieved  much  anxiety,  for 
with  the  sudden  coming  of  the  wind  and  hail  the 
girls  had  feared  that  the  youths  might  be  killed. 

After  such  a  strenuous  adventure,  the  Rover 
boys  were  content  to  take  it  easy  for  some  time. 
They  sent  to  the  city  for  a  man  to  come  and  re- 
pair the  Dartaway  and  then  settled  down  to  their 
studies.  Then,  after  the  biplane  had  been  re- 
paired, they  went  after  the  machine  and  brought  it 
back  to  Brill,  and  it  was  placed  in  the  gymnasium 
shed,  with  Abner  Filbury  to  guard  it,  as  before. 

"Don't  you  want  to  go  up,  Songbird?"  asked 
Tom,  one  afternoon,  after  college  hours. 

"I — er — I  don't  think  so,"  answered  the  sttn 
dent-poet,  gravely. 

"Rather  make  up  verses  about  flyrng  than  fly, 
eh?" 

"I— er— I  think  so,  Tom." 


TOM  AND  HIS  FUN 


179 


"What  have  you  made  up  about  airships,  any- 
thing really  fine,  Songbird?" 

"Well,  I've  written  a  few  little  verses,  Tom. 
Would  you  like  to  hear  them?" 

"Sure!"  cried  the  fun-loving  Rover,  and  then 
Songbird  commenced  to  recite : 

"I  spread  my  wings  on  the  balmy  air, 
And  float  and  float  I  know  not  where. 
I  rise,  I  fall,  I  fall,  I  rise, 
For  I  am  monarch  of  the  skies!" 

"Bang  up,  Songbird!  Couldn't  be  better !" 
cried  Tom.  "Give  us  another  dip,  like  the  small 
boy  said  of  the  ice-cream."  And  the  would-be" 
noet  continued : 

"I  rush  along  when  skies  are  blue, 
And  when  it  hails  I  sail  right  through! 
I  feel " 

"Hold  on,  Songbird!  You've  got  to  change 
that  line.  We  didn't  sail  right  through  when  it 
hailed — we  came  down  just  as  quickly  as  we 
could." 

"Oh,  that's  only  a  figure  of  speech,"  answered 
the  would-be  poet  loftily,  and  then  he  continued: 

"I  feel  I  can  sail  anywhere, 
For  I  am  monarch  of  the  air!" 

"Good  for  you!"  put  in  Sam,  who  was  pres» 


I8o  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

ent.    "For  A,  No.  I,  first-grade  poetry  apply  to 
Songbird  every  time." 

"There  are  sixteen  verses  in  all,"  went  on  the 
poet,  eagerly.  "The  next  one  begins " 

"Sorry,  there  goes  the  supper  bell!"  inter- 
rupted Tom.  "Come  on,  we've  got  to  eat,  even  if 
we  miss  the  finest  poem  in  the  universe." 

"I — er — I  didn't  hear  any  bell,"  answered 
Songbird. 

"You  didn't?"  cried  Tom,  innocently.  "Well! 
well!  Come  on  in  and  see  anyway!"  And  he 
dragged  the  would-be  poet  along  and  forced  him 
into  a  crowd  of  students.  "Guess  I  was  mis- 
taken," he  said  soberly.  "Too  bad !"  And  off  ht 
ran,  and  Sam  ran  after  him. 

"Well,  it  wasn't  half  bad,"  said  the  youngest 
Rover. 

"That's  true,  Sam,"  returned  Tom,  and  then 
he  added  with  a  sudden  broad  grin:  "But  how 
about  an  egg  that  was  only  half  bad — would  you 
want  to  eat  it?  Some  day  Songbird  may  write 
real  poetry — but  not  yet." 

It  was  now  ideal  football  weather  and  the  foot- 
ball elevens,  the  regular  and  the  scrub,  were  out 
daily  for  practice.  Dick  and  Tom  had  been  asked 
to  play  but  both  had  declined,  for  they  wished  to 
pay  attention  to  their  studies,  and  the  biplane  took 


TOM  AND  HIS  FUN  i&i 

tip  all  their  spare  time.    Sam  played  a  little  on  the 
scrub,  but  soon  gave  it  up. 

During  those  days  Dick  was  more  serious  than 
usual,  and  neither  Tom  nor  Sam  bothered  their 
elder  brother.  They  knew  he  was  thinking  of  his 
engagement  to  Dora,  and  also  worrying  over  the 
business  affairs  of  their  father  and  their  Uncle 
Randolph. 

One  day  Tom  and  Sam  took  a  short  trip  in  the 
biplane  and  pursuaded  Stanley  to  go  with  them, 
and  the  next  day  they  took  out  Spud.  But  nobody 
else  of  their  chums  cared  to  go. 

"A  new  arrival  to-morrow!"  cried  Sam,  one 
evening.  "Just  from  a  trip  to  Paris,  too/' 

"Is  it  William  Philander  Tubbs?"  queried  Tom, 
looking  up  from  the  theme  he  was  writing. 

"You've  struck  it,  Tom.  Since  you  wrote  to 
him  about  the  socks  he  has  been  over  to  Paris. 
But  he  gets  back  to  the  grind  to-morrow — comes 
in  on  the  four-thirty  train." 

"Say,  let  us  get  up  a  reception  in  William's 
honor!"  cried  the  fun-loving  Rover;  and  as  soon 
las  the  theme  was  finished  he  began  to  arrange  his 
'plans. 

The  next  afternoon  the  Rovers  and  a  crowd 
of  their  chums  took  one  of  the  college  carryalls 
and  drove  over  to  Ashton  station  to  witness  the 
sport.  Tom  had  been  to  town  early  in  the  morn- 


182  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

ing  and  had  arranged  matters  with  eight  colored 
waiters  from  the  hotel,  and  also  with  a  local 
liveryman. 

As  the  train  came  in  the  boys  and  a  number  of 
others  were  on  the  watch  for  Tubbs.  As  soon  as' 
they  saw  the  dudish  student  alight,  dress-suit  case 
in  hand,  the  Rovers  rushed  up  to  him. 

"How  are  you,  Sir  William!"  cried  Dick,  taking 
the  dude's  hand  gravely. 

"Let  me  congratulate  you,  Lord  Tubbs!"  cried 
Sam,  bowing  low. 

"Your  Highness  will  find  his  carriage  this 
way,"  put  in  Tom,  taking  the  dress-suit  case  and 
flinging  it  to  one  of  the  colored  men. 

"Why — er — weally,  don't  you  know,  what  does 
— er — this  mean?"  stammered  poor  William  Phil- 
ander, gazing  around  in  astonishment. 

And  well  might  he  be  astonished,  for  there, 
before  him,  in  a  wide-open  double  row,  stood  the 
eight  colored  men,  all  dressed  in  black,  with  broad 
red  sashes  over  their  breasts  and  cockades  of  red 
paper  in  their  hats.  On  the  platform  between 
the  colored  men  was  a  bright  red  stair  carpet,  and 
this  carpet  led  directly  to  where  a  carriage  was  in 
waiting.  The  carriage  had  four  white  horses,  all 
decorated  in  red  ribbons,  and  on  the  seat  sat  a 
driver,  also  decorated  in  red. 

"Such  an  honor  to  have  your  Lordship  conde- 


TOM  AND  HIS  FUN 

scend  to  come  to  Brill,"  went  on  Tom,  with  a  low 
bow. 

"What  did  the  Queen  say  when  she  decorated 
you?"  asked  Dick. 

"It  was  a  grand  thing  for  the  King  to  honor 
you  so  highly,"  put  in  Sam. 

"T  certainly  envy  you,"  came  from  Songbird, 
who  was  in  the  secret. 

"Hope  there  is  a  good  salary  attached  to  the 
office,"  was  Stanley's  comment. 

"I've  heard  it  vas  fife  thousand  pounds  by  the 
year!"  vouchsafed  Max. 

"How  the  girls  will  fall  in  love  with  you  when 
they  hear  of  this,"  sighed  Spud. 

"This  way,  your  Excellency!"  cried  Tom,  and 
led  poor,  bewildered  Tubbs  to  the  carriage. 

"Thomas,  my  dear  fellow,  what — er — what 
does  it  mean?"  gasped  the  dudish  student,  his 
eyes  opening  wider  and  wider. 

"Oh,  you  can't  fool  us,  Tubblets,"  whispered 
the  fun-loving  Rover.    "You  were  going  to  keep 
it  a  secret,  but  we  read  all  about  it  in  the  London 
paper  one  of  the  fellows  sent  over." 
.     "Read  about — ah — what,  please?" 

"Why,  how  the  king  and  queen  knighted  you, 
and  all  that,  Philliam  Whilander." 

"William  Philander,  please,  Thomas.  But — er 
• — this  is  a  mistake " 


184  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"No,  no,  Tubby,  my  boy,  no  mistake  at  all,  I 
assure  you.  This  is  in  your  honor  solely.  The 
college  faculty  did  it — they  couldn't  do  less,  to 
one  so  decorated,  or  knighted, — which  is  it, 
please?  It's  the  grandest  thing  that  ever  hap- 
pened to  Brill." 

"But  don't  you  know,  I — er — I  haven't  been — 
er — knighted,  or  anything  else.  I  wasn't  in  Eng- 
land, I  went  to  Paris,  and " 

"Now,  now,  my  dear  boy,  don't  try  that  game," 
said  Tom,  reproachfully.  "We  all  know  perfectly 
well  that  you  were  knighted  and  that  you  are  now 
Sir  Tubbs,  P.  X.  G.,  and  all  that.  We  salute 
you!"  And  then  Tom  took  off  his  hat.  "Three 
cheers  for  Sir  Tubbs!"  he  called  loudly. 

The  cheers  were  given  with  a  will,  and  a  tiger 
added.  Poor  Tubbs  was  almost  stricken  dumb, 
and  commenced  to  mop  the  perspiration  from  his 
forehead 

"Don't  crowd  so  close!"  cried  Tom,  warning- 
ly.  "His  Lordship  must  have  air!  He  isn't  used 
to  so  much  excitement !  Stand  back !  Now  then, 
into  the  carriage,  if  you  please!"  And  into  the 
turnout  went  poor  Tubbs,  and  the  next  instant 
his  hat  was  snatched  from  his  head  and  a  tall, 
white  beaver  was  placed  in  its  stead.  Then  sereral 
medals  of  tin  and  brass  were  pinned  to  his  coat, 
and  the  crowd  set  tip  a  riotous  cheering. 


TOM  AND  HIS  FUN  185 

"Hurrah  for  Sir  Tubbs!" 

"My,  what  an  honor  for  Brill!" 

"Nothing  like  having  a  real  nobleman  for  a 
student!" 

"Away  we  go !  Pile  in,  boys !"  cried  Tom,  and 
then  there  was  a  crack  of  a  whip,  and  off  the 
strange  turnout  started,  with  poor  Tubbs  on  the 
seat  looking  more  bewildered  than  ever,  and  fol- 
lowed by  the  great  carryall  with  the  yelling  and 
singing  students  who  had  come  to  greet  him. 


CHAPTER   XIX 

STARTLING  NEWS  FROM   HOME 

the  conquering  hero  comes!" 
"Say,  but  he  looks  like  a  real  Lord,  doesn't  he  ?*' 
"Don't  forget  to  bow  to  all  the  people  you  pass, 
SirTubbs!" 

So  the  cries  rang  on,  as  the  carriage  and  the 
carryall  rolled  away  from  the  Ashton  depot. 

"Say,  look  here,  what  does  this  mean?"  stam- 
mered the  dudish  student.  "I  tell  you  I'm  no  lord, 
or  knight,  or  anything  like  that!  I  was  over  to 
Paris,  not  London,  don't  you  know.  Weally, 
this  is — er — very  embarrassing!"  he  pleaded, 
wildly. 

"Stand  up  and  make  a  speech,  when  you  get 
to  the  campus,  Willie  boy !"  sang  out  Tom.  "Give 
'em  something  grand  on  high  finance,  or  railroad 
building,  or  cooking  beans,  or  something  like 
that." 

"Why,  Tom,  weally,  don't  you  know,  I  know 
nothing  of — er — railroads,  or — er — beans.  Please 

186 


STARTLING  NEWS  FROM  HOME          18? 

stop  the  carriage,  I  wish  to  get  out.  This  is — er— • 
awful,  don't  you  know!"  fairly  panted  the  dude. 
He  had  stood  up,  but  now  the  carriage  gave  a  jolt 
and  down  he  sat  very  suddenly. 

On  through  the  town  and  straight  for  the  col* 
lege  drove  the  two  turnouts,  the  students  yelling 
themselves  hoarse.  Many  at  Brill  had  been  let 
into  the  secret,  and  when  the  grounds  were 
reached  a  big  crowd  was  congregated,  to  take 
part  in  the  sport. 

"Here  they  are!" 

"Hurrah  for  Lord  Tubbs!" 

"How  are  you,  Duke  William  Philander!" 

"Do  you  wear  the  order  of  the  Red  Garter?" 

"No,  it's  the  Blue  Suspender  he  was  decorated 
frith." 

"Speech!  speech!"  came  the  cry  from  every 
side. 

Then  the  carriage  came  to  a  halt  and  was  im- 
mediately surrounded  by  a  howling  mob.  A  few 
had  flowers  that  they  threw  at  William  Philander, 
while  others  had  supplied  themselves  with  stalks 
of  celery,  carrot  and  beet  tops,  and  similar  things, 
which  they  sent  forward  with  force  and  direct- 
ness. 

"Here's  a  bouquet  for  you !" 

"My  kindest  regards,  Tubbs!" 

"Oh,  isn't  it  grand  to  be  a  real,  live  Emperor!" 


188  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Hi,  let  up,  will  you!"  fairly  shrieked  poof 
Tubbs,  as  the  things  hit  him  in  the  head  and  shoul- 
ders. "Let  up,  I  tell  you !  Oh,  what  a  joke !  Let 
me  get  out  of  the  carriage !  I  can't  make  a  speech ! 
Stop  throwing  at  me!  Oh,  my  eye!"  he  added, 
;as  a  beet  top  caught  him  in  the  left  optic.  Then, 
watching  his  chance,  he  leaped  from  the  carriage, 
dove  like  a  madman  through  the  crowd,  and 
rushed  for  one  of  the  dormitories,  quickly  dis- 
appearing from  view. 

"Good  bye,  my  boy,  good  bye!"  sang  out  sev- 
eral. And  then  Tom  sent  the  dress-suit  case  after 
him;  and  the  fun  came  to  an  end. 

"Poor  William  Philander,  he  won't  forget  that 
in  a  hurry!"  was  Dick's  comment.  "Just  th^ 
same,  I  am  afraid  the  sport  got  a  little  too  rough 
at  the  end." 

"Maybe  it  did,"  answered  Tom.  "If  you  want 
it,  I'll  speak  to  Tubbs  and  apologize." 

"I  see  that  apology  in  a  gold  frame  right  now!" 
declared  Sam,  with  a  laugh.  "Tom,  let  him  alone 
and  he'll  be  all  right." 

All  of  the  boys  wondered  how  Tubbs  would  act 
when  he  showed  himself.  Much  to  their  amaze- 
ment he  called  Tom  to  one  side  that  evening  and 
shook  hands  cordially. 

"It  was  all  a  mistake — this  report  that  I  had — < 
fir — been  knighted,  don't  you  know,"  he  lisped. 


STARTLING  NEWS  FROM  HOME  189 

"But  it  was  very  nice  to  get  up  such  a  reception  in 
my  honor,  Thomas,  really  it  was — although  it  got 
a  bit  rough  towards  the  end.  But  I  know  it  was 
meant  well,  and  I  thank  you,  honestly  I  do."  And 
the  dudish  student  shook  Tom's  hand  again. 

And  then,  for  once  in  his  life,  Tom  Rover  didn't 
know  what  to  say.  As  he  afterwards  admitted, 
he  was  completely  "stumped."  Poor,  innocent 
Tubbs  had  really  thought  it  an  honor!  To  Tom 
that  was  "the  limit." 

"I'll  never  really  know  that  chap,"  he  said  to 
his  brothers.  "His  head  must  be  filled  with  saw- 
dust and  punk." 

"Well,  let  him  drop  now,"  advised  Dick.  "Quit 
your  fooling,  Tom,  and  get  at  your  studies.  You 
know  what  I  told  you.  We  may  have  to  leave 
Brill  before  we  anticipated.  And  we  want  to  get 
all  the  learning  we  can." 

"Have  you  heard  anything  more  from  dad?" 
demanded  the  fun-loving  Rover  quickly. 

"Yes,  a  letter  came  this  evening.  That  business 
affair  is  in  a  worse  twist  than  ever.  But  dad  hopes 
he  can  straighten  it  out.  But  he  writes  that  he 
isn't  feeling  as  well  as  he  was.  If  he  gets  sick, 
we'll  have  to  jump  in — or  at  least  I  will — and 
take  his  place." 

"We'll  all  jump  in,"  was  Sam's  comment.  "I'd 
like  to  do  something  in  a  business  way." 


X90  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Did  dad  give  any  particulars?"  asked  Tom. 

"None  but  what  we  already  know.     He  felt 
loo  ill  to  write  much." 

"Has  he  heard  anything  more  of  Crabtree  or 
Bobber?" 

"Nothing." 

During  the  following  week  there  was  some  ex- 
citement at  Brill  because  of  a  football  game  be- 
tween that  college  and  another  institution  of 
learning.  It  was  a  gala  occasion,  and  the  Rover 
boys  hired  a  three-seated  carriage  and  brought 
Dora,  Nellie  and  Grace  to  the  game.  Brill  won 
the  contest,  and  a  great  jubilee  lasting  far  into 
the  night  followed.  The  Rovers  and  the  three 
girls  had  a  little  feast  of  their  own  at  the  Ash- 
ton  hotel,  and  on  the  way  back  to  Hope  the  young 
people  sang  songs,  and  had  a  good  time  generally. 
Perhaps  some  very  sentimental  things  were  said — 
especially  between  Dick  and  Dora — but  if  so,  who 
can  blame  them?  The  placing  of  that  engage- 
ment ring  on  Dora's  finger  by  Dick  had  made 
them  both  exceedingly  happy. 
f  During  those  days  the  boys  took  several  short 
trips  in  the  Dartaway,  once  landing  in  the  field 
:on  the  Dawson  farm.  They  sought  out  Dan  Mur- 
dock  and  asked  him  if  he  had  seen  anything  more 
of  Koswell  and  Larkspur. 

"Yes,  I  see  'em  last  week,  but  they  got  out  of 


STARTLING  NEWS  FROM  HOME          191 

Bight  in  the  woods,  and  I  couldn't  find  'em/'  an- 
swered the  farm  hand. 

"Around  here?"  asked  Dick. 

"No,  that  was  on  the  edge  of  the  big  woods 
back  of  Hope  Seminary.  I  was  driving  along, 
•with  some  crates  of  eggs  for  the  girls'  college, 
when  I  see  'em,  sitting  on  a  fallen  tree,  smoking 
cigarettes.  I  stopped  my  hosses  and  spoke  to  'em, 
and  then  they  up  and  run  into  the  woods  as  fast 
as  they  could  go !  I  looked  for  'em,  but  I  couldn't 
git  on  their  track  nohow." 

"What  can  they  be  doing  up  around  Hope?" 
murmured  Sam. 

"Maybe  they  are  sweet  on  some  of  the  girls,** 
returned  Tom.  "I  know  they  used  to  go  up  there, 
when  they  attended  Brill." 

"I  hope,  if  they  visit  Hope,  they  don't  speak  to 
Dora  and  the  others,"  said  Dick,  as  his  face 
clouded. 

"Maybe  we  better  warn  the  girls,"  said  Sam. 

"No,  don't  do  that,"  said  Tom.  "You'd  only 
scare  them.  They  know  Koswell  and  Larkspur 
well  enough.  Don't  say  anything."  And  so  the 
matter  was  dropped. 

Two  days  later  came  a  special  delivery  letter 
from  home  that  filled  the  three  boys  with  intense 
interest. 


192  THE  ROVER  BOYS  /AT  THE  AIR 

"Josiah  Crabtree  and  Tad  Sobber  have  at  last 
shown  their  hand,"  wrote  Mr.  Anderson  Rtver. 
"They  have  seiK  an  unsigned  communication  to 
me  demanding  fifty  thousand  dollars.  They  _give 
me  just  two  weeks  in  which  to  get  the  money  to- 
gether in  cash  and  place  it  at  a  certain  spot  cjlong 
the  road  between  our  home  and  Oak  Run.  If  the 
money  is  not  forthcoming  they  promise  to  blow 
up  every  building  on  the  farm.  The  communi- 
cation says,  'You  can  pay  half  of  this  and  get  the 
other  half  from  your  lady  friends.'  Which  means, 
of  course,  the  Stanhopes  and  Lanings." 

"Of  all  the  cowardly  things!"  cried  Tom,  after 
listening  to  the  above.  "Why,  it's  a  regular  sort 
of  Black  Hand  communication!" 

"So  it  is,"  added  Sam.  "What  else  does  dad 
say,"  he  went  on,  and  Dick  continued  the  reading 
of  the  letter : 

"At  first  I  was  inclined  to  treat  the  communi- 
cation lightly  and  laugh  at  it,  but  then  came  an- 
other letter — a  mere  scrawl,  stating  they  would 
'give  me  a  taste  of  what  to  expect  that  night.  I 
'told  the  detective  of  this  and  he  came  to  the  house 
and  remained  all  night  with"  us.  About  three 
o'clock  in  the  morning  there  was  an  explosion  out- 
side, and  when  we  dressed  and  ran  out  we  found 


STARTLING  NEWS  FROM  HOME 


193 


one  of  the  chicken  houses  blown  to  flinders  by 
dynamite  or  some  other  explosive.  About  one 
hundred  chickens  were  destroyed." 

"Just  listen  to  that!"  gasped  Tom.  "Oh,  thf 
rascals!" 

"And  Uncle  Randolph's  prize  stock  chickens!' 
murmured  Sam.  "That  must  have  made  his  heart 
ache!" 

"I'll  wager  Aunt  Martha  was  scared  to  death," 
added  Tom.  And  Dick  read  on: 

"Of  course  there  was  great  excitement,  and 
four  of  us,  the  detective,  Ness,  Pop,  and  myself, 
went  after  the  rascals,  leaving  your  Uncle  Ran- 
dolph to  look  after  your  aunt  and  the  cook,  both 
of  whom  were  very  much  frightened.  We  hunted 
around  until  daylight,  but  without  success.  Then 
we  went  to  the  old  mill  in  the  auto,  but  the  place 
was  deserted.  After  that  I  notified  the  local 
authorities,  and  I  have  hired  ten  watchmen  to 
guard  the  farm  and  every  building  on  it.  I  have 
also  sent  for  two  more  detectives,  and  I  am  hop- 
ing that,  sooner  or  later,  they  will  be  able  to  tract 
the  scoundrels  and  run  them  down.'* 

"Does  he  say  how  he  is  feeling?"  questioned 


194  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

Sam,  as  his  brother  paused  in  the  reading  of  th* 
letter. 

"Yes,  he  says  he  is  about  the  same,  but  that 
Uncle  Randolph  is  very  much  upset  over  the  loss 
of  his  chickens  and  wants  to  know  if  they  hadn't 
better  pay  the  money  demanded. " 

"Oh,  I  hope  they  don't  pay  a  cent!"  cried  Tom. 

"So  do  I,"  added  Sam.  "But  I  don't  want  to 
see  them  blown  up  either,"  he  continued,  seriously. 

"None  of  us  want  that,"  said  Dick.  "But  I'd 
not  give  them  a  cent — I'd  be  blown  up  a  dozen 
times  before  I'd  do  it!"  he  continued,  firmly. 

"Do  they  want  us  home?"  asked  Tom. 

"No,  dad  says  it  will  do  no  good  for  us  to  come 
home.  He  says  he  will  write  or  telegraph  if  any- 
thing new  developes.  He  thinks,  with  the  extra 
watchmen  on  guard,  and  the  detectives  at  work, 
Crabtree  and  Sobber  will  get  scared  and  leave 
them  alone." 

"I  hope  they  do,"  said  Sam.  He  heaved  a  deep 
sigh.  "Gracious!  it  seems  to  me  that  no  sooner 
are  we  out  of  one  trouble  than  we  get  into  an- 
other!" 

"That  is  true." 

•'     "It's  too  bad — to  have  this  piled  on  poor  dad 
when  he's  so  worried  about  that  business  affair." 

"Well,  you  know  the  old  saying,  'troubles  never 
come  singly,5  "  answered  the  older  brother. 


STARTLING  NEWS  FROM  HOME 

After  that  the  three  boys  watched  the  mails 
anxiously  for  over  a  week.  Then  came  another 
letter  from  their  father,  in  which  he  stated  that 
nothing  new  had  developed.  Then  came  another 
wait — until  the  day  after  that  set  by  Crabtree  and 
Sobber  for  the  delivery  of  the  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars,— when  Dick  got  a  telegram,  as  follows : 

"All  quiet.  Received  another  letter,  to  which  I 
have  paid  no  attention.  Feel  almost  sure  the  ras- 
cals have  left  this  part  of  the  country.  All  fairly 
well." 

"Well,  that's  some  comfort,"  was  Tom's  com- 
ment. "I  hope  they  have  gone  away,  and  that  we 
never  see  or  hear  of  them  again." 

"Don't  comfort  yourself  that  way,  Tom,"  an- 
swered Dick.  "They  are  bound  to  show  their 
hand  again,  sooner  or  later.  Wr.  won't  Kit  safe 
from  them  until  they  are  in  jail." 


CHAPTER  XX 
GRACE'S  REVELATION 

ONE  clear  afternoon  the  three  Rover  boys  de- 
cided to  take  a  run  up  to  Hope  Seminary  in  the 
Dartazvay.  There  was  very  little  wind  and,  al- 
though it  was  growing  colder,  they  knew  they 
could  easily  bundle  up  in  their  aviation  coats  and 
boots.  Sam  and  Tom  had  been  trying  out  the  bi- 
plane, and  they  pronounced  everything  in  perfect 
order  for  a  flight. 

"Dick,  let  me  run  the  machine  over,"  said  Sam, 
and  the  big  brother  agreed,  for  Tom  had  been  at 
the  wheel  on  a  previous  occasion. 

The  boys  had  no  classes  to  attend  after  lunch 
and  so  got  away  by  two  o'clock. 

"I  trust  we  can  see  the  girls,"  said  Dick,  as  they^ 
started  up  the  engine  of  the  flying  machine. 

"Oh,  they'll  be  at  liberty  after  hours,"  an- 
swered Tom.  "They  always  are." 

Previous  to  leaving,  the  boys  had  rilled  the  oil 
196 


GXXCE'S  REVELATION  197 

feed  and  the  gasoline  tank,  so  they  were  pre- 
pared for  quite  a  trip. 

"Maybe  we  can  get  the  girls  to  go  up,  for  just 
a  little  sail,  you  know,"  said  Sam.  "I  am  sure 
ihe  Dartaway  could  carry  them,  on  a  pinch." 

"Where  would  they  sit,  in  our  laps?"  asked 
Tom,  with  a  grin. 

"No,  they  could  sit  in  the  seats  and  we  could 
sit  back  of  them,  like  on  a  bob-sled,"  answered  the 
youngest  Rover. 

"I  don't  think  they'll  care  to  go  up,"  answered 
Dick.  "They'd  be  too  scared.  As  yet,  flying  ma- 
chines are  hardly  built  for  ladies.  But  I  think 
the  time  will  come  when  they  will  use  them." 

As  they  were  in  no  hurry,  the  boys  took  their 
time  in  sailing  over  the  farms  and  country  roads. 
They  did  not  go  up  very  high,  and  often  saw 
farmers  and  others  staring  at  them,  shouting 
things  they  could  not  catch. 

"By  and  by  flying  machines  will  be  as  common 
as  autos,"  remarked  Dick.  "But  now  the  sight 
of  one  is  a  great  curiosity  to  these  folks. " 

Sam  handled  the  machine  like  a  veteran  and 
even  showed  what  he  could  do  by  making  a  small 
'figure  eight  and  a  spiral  dip. 

"I  wish  we  had  a  little  monoplane,  just  for 
one,"  he  said.  "My!  couldn't  a  fellow  scoot 
around  then!** 


198  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Sam's  got  the  flying  bee  all  right!"  cried  Tern. 

"Well,  wouldn't  you  like  it  yourself?"  de- 
manded the  youngest  Rover. 

"I'd  rather  have  a  big  airship.  Then  I  could1 
give  all  my  friends  a  ride — have  a  regular  air- 
ship party." 

"Well,  I'd  like  that  too,"  was  Sam's  reply. 

Presently  they  came  in  sight  of  the  seminary 
buildings.  They  circled  around  for  some  time 
and  then  landed  at  the  far  end  of  the  campus. 
A  few  girls  were  in  sight,  but  not  those  they  had 
come  to  visit. 

"Good  afternoon,"  said  Dick,  to  a  girl  he  had 
met,  named  Ida  Strong.  "Can  you  tell  me  where 
I  can  find  Miss  Stanhope,  or  the  Misses  Laning?" 

"The  three  of  them  went  for  a  walk,  about  half 
an  hour  ago,"  replied  Ida  Strong. 

"Do  you  know  where  they  went?" 

"I  do  not,  excepting  that  they  took  the  road 
to  Beechwood,"  and  the  girl  student  pointed  out 
the  highway  mentioned,  one  that  ran  through  the 
big  woods  back  of  the  seminary.  It  led  to  the 
village  of  Beechwood,  which  was  several  miles  be- 
yond. 

"Thank  you,"  returned  Dick.  "If  we  shouldn't 
meet  them,  will  you  tell  them  we  called,  in  our 
biplane?" 

"I  will,"  said  the  girl. 


GRACE'S  REVELATION  igg 

Dick  was  about  to  rejoin  his  brothers,  and  sug- 
gest that  they  go  up  and  fly  along  over  the  woods 
road,  when  another  girl,  named  Bess  Haven,  came 
running  up. 

"Oh,  Mr.  Rover,  isn't  this  queer!"  she  cried. 
1*1  thought  you  were  hurt!" 

"Hurt?"  repeated  Dick,  puzzled.     "How  so?" 

"Why  Dora  Stanhope  said  you  were — that  you 
had  had  a  fall  out  of  the  flying  machine." 

"That  I  fell  out  of  the  machine?"  cried  Dick. 
"There  is  some  mistake  here.  I  have  had  no  fall. 
When  did  she  tell  you  that?" 

"About  half  an  hour  ago.  She  got  some  sort 
of  a  message,  and  she  was  terribly  upset.  She 
went  off  to  visit  you." 

"Where  to?" 

"I  don't  know.  But  wait — yes,  she  did  say  you 
had  had  a  fall  in  the  woods." 

"Did  she  go  alone?"  And  now  Dick's  heart 
began  to  thump  strangely.  He  was  thinking  of 
their  many  enemies.  Was  this  some  new  trick? 

"No,  Nellie  and  Grace  Laning,  her  cousins, 
jyent  with  her." 

Dick  turned  to  Ida  Strong. 

"You  saw  them  go?" 

"Yes,  just  as  I  told  you.  Oh,  Mr.  Rover,  is 
anything  wrong?" 

"I  don't  know — I  hope  not.     But  I  think  we 


200  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

had  better  go  after  them  at  once.  Good  day." 
And  Dick  fairly  ran  back  to  where  Tom  and  Sam 
rested  near  the  biplane. 

"Start  her  up,  quick!"  he  said  to  his  brothers, 
in  a  low  voice.  "Something  is  wrong!  We've 
got  to  get  after  the  girls  right  away!" 

"What  is  it?"  demanded  Tom,  leaping  to  his 
feet,  while  Sam  did  the  same. 

"I'll  tell  you  when  we  are  on  the  way.  Quick, 
start  the  propellers!  I'll  take  the  wheel,"  and 
Dick  sprang  into  the  seat. 

In  another  moment  the  engine  had  been  started, 
and  with  a  rush  and  a  whizz  the  Dartazvay  left 
the  campus.  Dick  made  a  turn,  then  headed  in  the 
direction  of  the  road  through  the  woods.  He  flew 
low  and  rather  slowly. 

"Keep  your  eyes  open,"  he  cautioned,  "for  any 
sight  of  the  girls — or  any  sight  of  our  enemies." 
And  then  he  related  as  much  as  he  knew  of  what 
had  occurred. 

"Do  you  think  somebody  sent  that  message  to 
decoy  Dora  away  from  the  seminary,  Dick?" 
asked  Sam. 

"Doesn't  it  look  that  way?  Why  should  any- 
body send  word  that  I  was  hurt,  when  I  wasn't?" 

"I  think  you  are  right!"  declared  Tom.  "I 
think  I  can  see  through  it,"  he  went  on  quickly. 
"They  found  out  they  couldn't  dynamite  dad  or 


GRACE'S  REVELATION  2OI 

Uncle  Randolph  into  giving  up  that  money,  and 
they  couldn't  get  at  Mrs.  Stanhope  or  Mrs.  Lan- 
ing  to  get  it,  so  now  they  are  going  to  see  what 
they  can  do  through  Dora — and  maybe  Nellie  and 
Grace." 

"That's  exactly  the  way  I  figure  it!"  exclaimed 
Dick.  "And  the  sooner  we  reach  the  girls  the 
better !  For  all  we  know,  it  may  even  now  be  too 
late!" 

"Oh,  let  us  hope  not!"  cried  Sam. 

"Did  they  go  on  foot?"  asked  Tom. 

"Yes." 

"Were  they  to  meet  anybody?" 

"I  don't  know.  Miss  Haven  said  they  went  off 
in  a  great  hurry — which  was  natural,  if  they 
thought  I  had  tumbled  out  of  the  biplane  and 
been  hurt.  I  suppose  poor  Dora  was  scared  half 
to  death,"  and  Dick  heaved  a  long  sigh. 

As  the  flying  machine  swept  along  over  the 
woods  and  the  roadway  the  three  youths  kept 
their  eyes  on  the  alert  for  a  sight  of  the  girls. 
For  a  long  time  they  saw  nothing  out  of  the  ordi- 
nary. Then  Sam  uttered  a  cry : 

"See!  see!  There  is  Grace!  She  is  waving 
her  handkerchief  at  us!" 

All  looked  in  the  direction  indicated,  and  at 
a  spot  along  the  road  where  there  was  quite  a 
cleared  space  they  saw  Grace  Laning  standing  on 


202  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

a  flat  rock,  waving  franctically  at  them.  They 
had  to  make  a  circle,  and  then,  with  care,  Dick 
brought  the  biplane  down  into  the  roadway. 

"What  is  it,  Grace?"  yelled  Sam,  as  he  leaped 
from  his  seat.  "Where  are  the  others?"  ^ 

"Oh,  Sam!"  moaned  the  girl,  and  then  they 
saw  that  her  hair  was  awry  and  her  shoes  were 
covered  with  dust.  "Oh,  save  them!  Go  after 
them  at  once!"  And  then  she  staggered  forward 
and  fainted  in  Sam's  arms. 

The  three  Rovers  were  greatly  alarmed  and 
for  the  rioment  did  net  know  what  to  do.  Then 
Dick  rushed  to  the  side  of  the  roadway,  where 
some  water  trickled  along  in  a  hollow,  and  brought 
some,  using  a  collapsible  cup  they  carried  when  on 
a  trip.  With  this  they  bathed  Grace's  face  and 
they  forced  a  little  water  into  her  mouth,  and 
soon  she  opened  her  eyes  and  stared  around  her. 

"Go  away!  Go  away!  Don't  touch  me!"  she 
gasped. 

"Hush,  Grace,  you  are  safe,"  answered  Sam, 
gently. 

"Oh,  Sam!  I  forgot!"  She  struggled  to  her 
feet,  he  still  supporting  her.  "Did — did  you  find 
them?  Did  you  bring  them  back?"  she  asked 
wildly. 

"You  mean  Dora  and  Nellie?"  asked  Dick  and 
Tom,  in  a  breath. 


GRACE'S  REVELATION 


203 


"Yes  lyes!" 

"We  don't  know  where  they  are.  Tell  us  about 
it,"  went  on  Dick. 

"Oh,  it's  terrible!"  cried  Grace,  and  now  the 
tears  began  to  course  down  her  cheeks.  "We  got  a 
note — at  least  Dora  did — stating  you  had  had  a 
fall  from  the  biplane  and  were  hurt.  The  note 
was  signed  'Tom,'  and  we  of  course  thought  Tom 
had  sent  it.  It  said  to  keep  the  matter  quiet  but 
to  come  without  delay — down  this  road  to  the  old 
white  cottage.  So  the  three  of  us  started  off  as 
soon  as  we  could.  Dora  was  so  afraid  it  was  seri- 
ous she  ran  nearly  all  the  way,  and  Nellie  and  I 
ran,  too.  We  had  thought  you  were  at  the  cot- 
tage, but  when  we  got  there  we  didn't  see  any- 
body. While  we  hunted  around  a  big  touring  car, 
one  of  the  kind  with  a  closed  coach  top,  dashed 
up.  There  was  a  man  running  the  car  and  an- 
other man  inside,  a  fellow  who  looked  like  a  doc- 
tor. The  driver  asked  if  we  were  the  girls  who 
had  come  to  see  Dick  Rover,  the  aviator,  and  we 
said  yes.  Then  he  said  the  car  had  been  sent  for 
us  and  for  the  doctor,  and  for  us  to  get  in  and 
he  would  take  us  to  Dick  Rover  at  once.  We  goi 
in,  and  then,  before  we  knew  it,  the  touring  car 
was  rushing  along  the  road  at  a  great  rate  of 
speed.  We  asked  the  doctor  about  you,  Dick,  but 
he  said  he  hadn't  seen  you  yet.  Then  we  asked 


204  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

the  driver,  but  he  acted  so  queer  we  began  to  get 
suspicious.  Then,  oh,  wasn't  it  strange?  Nellie 
saw  a  card  on  the  floor  of  the  car,  and  picked  it 
up,  and  it  was  Josiah  Crabtree's  visiting  card! 
She  showed  it  to  Dora  and  I,  and  Dora  screamed, 
and  wanted  to  leap  out  of  the  car.  But  the  doc- 
tor— if  he  was  a  doctor — held  her,  and  held  Nel- 
lie, too.  But  I  was  too  much  for  him.  I  don't 
know  how  I  did  it,  but,  just  as  we  were  rounding 
a  curve  rather  slowly,  I  flung  myself  out  of  the 
door,  and  I  landed  in  some  bushes.  I  got 
scratched  a  little,  as  you  can  see,  but  I  wasn't  hurt, 
and  I  started  to  run  back  to  the  seminary  and  was 
doing  that  when  I  saw  your  flying  machine.  You 
know  the  rest."  And  now  Grace  stopped,  too  ex- 
hausted to  say  another  word. 

"And  the  touring  car  went  on?"  queried  Dick. 

"Yes!  yes!  I  saw  the  man  shut  the  door,  too. 
Oh,  Dick,  they  have  carried  poor  Nellie  and  Dora 
off,  just  as  they  carried  Dora's  mother  off!" 

"They  kept  to  this  road?" 

"I  believe  so.  I  don't  know  of  any  cross  road 
this  side  of  Beechwood." 

"Then  we'll  get  after  them  at  once!"  declared 
Dick.  "Sam,  do  you  want  to  take  Grace  back,  or 
come  with  us?" 

"Well— I— er " 

"Go  with  them,  Sam — they  may  need  you!" 


GRACE'S  REVELATION  205 

broke  in  the  girl  quickly.  "I  can  go  back  alone, 
and  I'll  send  word  to  the  authorities,  over  the 
telephone.  Hurry!  hurry,  or  it  will  be  too  late!" 

The  boys  needed  no  further  urging.  Dick  and 
Tom  ran  for  the  flying  machine,  and  soon  the  ex- 
plosions of  the  motor  filled  the  crisp  autumn  air. 
Then  all  the  boys  leaped  on  board.  Dick  was  at 
the  wheel,  and  he  sent  the  Dartaway  along  at  a 
good  rate  of  speed.  Sam  looked  back,  to  see 
Grace  hurrying  in  the  direction  of  Hope  Semi- 
nary. 

"I  hope  she  gets  back  safely,"  he  said  anx- 
iously. 

"I  think  she  will,"  answered  Tom.  "Those 
rascals  are  all  further  along  the  road — waiting 
for  Nellie  and  Dora." 

"Keep  your  eyes  open,"  put  in  Dick.  "Don't 
let  anything  escape  you.  We  must  spot  that  auto 
without  fail!" 


CHAPTER  XXI 
FOLLOWING  DORA  AND 


THE  nerves  of  the  Rover  boys  were  on  edge. 
Dick  and  Tom  were  particularly  anxious,  for 
those  who  had  been  thus  rudely  carried  off  were 
very  dear  to  them. 

"I  wonder  who  that  so-called  doctor  was?" 
mused  Sam,  as  the  Dartaway  sailed  along,  keep- 
ing over  the  road  as  well  as  the  windings  through 
the  dense  woods  permitted. 

"Most  likely  some  tool  of  Crabtree  or  Sobber» 
or  both,"  answered  Tom. 

"Do  you  think  Koswell  and  Larkspur  are  in 
this  game?" 

"Perhaps  they  are!"  cried  Dick.    "It  would  be 

just  like  them  to  join  forces  with  Crabtree  and 

\  Bobber.    They  are  down  and  out,  and  need  money, 

and  all  of  them  would  expect  to  get  a  big  stake 

out  of  this." 

"Then  you  think  they  carried  the  girls  off  for 
money?"  questioned  Tom. 
206 


FOLLOWING  DORA  AND  NELLIE         207 

"I  do,  Tom.  You  hit  the  truth  when  you  said 
they  found  out  they  couldn't  do  anything  at  the 
farm,  and  couldn't  reach  Mrs.  Stanhope  and  Mrs. 
Laning.  The  only  things  left  were  to  try  to  reach 
us  or  the  girls." 

"And  they  didn't  dare  tackle  us,"  put  in  Sam. 

"Do  you  suppose  that  Mrs.  Sobber  is  in  this?" 
continued  Tom,  referring  to  a  relative  of  Tad 
Sobber,  who  had  assisted  once  in  the  carrying  off 
of  Mrs.  Stanhope. 

"She  may  be,  although  she  was  pretty  well 
scared  that  other  time,"  replied  his  older  brother. 

The  boys  relapsed  into  silence,  each  busy  with 
his  own  thoughts.  All  were  anxious  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  the  enclosed  touring  car.  But  they 
came  within  sight  of  the  village  of  Beechwood 
without  encountering  a  turnout  of  any  sort. 

"I'll  land  here  and  make  some  inquiries,"  said 
Dick. 

"Yes,  if  the  auto  went  through  here  somebody 
must  have  seen  it,"  said  Tom. 

A  landing  was  made  directly  on  the  village 
green,  in  front  of  the  post-office,  and  a  small 
crowd  quickly  collected. 

"It's  them  young  fellers  from  Brill!"  cried  one 
of  the  villagers.  "I  heard  tell  they  had  an  airship. " 

"That  ain't  no  airship,  it's  an  aryplane,"  said 


208  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

another.  "They  don't  lift  up  like  no  balloon— < 
they  sail  like  a  bird,  on  them  canvas  wings." 

"Wot  makes  the  thing  go,  Job?" 

"Them  wooden  things.  They  go  'round  like 
ivindmills." 

"Say,  we  want  some  information  and  we  want 
it  quick!"  cried  Dick.  "Have  any  of  you  seen  a 
big  auto  go  through  here,  an  enclosed  auto — one 
with  a  coach-like  body?" 

"Sure  we  did !"  cried  one  of  the  villagers.  "By 
heck!  the  thing  nearly  killed  Si  Levering,  it  did! 
Si  was  crossin'  the  road,  when  whizz !  bang!  shoo ! 
that  auto  went  past  him  like  a  streak  o'  greased 
lightnin' !  Si  jumped  back  an'  sit  hisself  down  in 
the  waterin'  trough  an'  got  hisself  all  wet." 

"Which  way  did  the  auto  go?"  went  on  Dick. 

"Right  straight  ahead." 

"No,  it  didn't  nuther,"  put  in  a  farmer,  who 
had  just  arrived  in  the  village.  "It  took  the  road 
to  Shepleytown — I  see  it." 

"Which  is  that?"  questioned  Tom. 

"You  go  up  this  road  about  a  mile  an'  then  take 
the  cross  road  to  the  left.  You  can't  miss  it,  'cause 
there's  a  big  tree  on  the  corner  that  was  struck  by 
lightnin'." 

"All  right,  we'll  go  to  the  corner  that  was 
struck  by  lightning,"  said  Tom,  who  could  not 
help  joking,  even  in  that  moment  of  anxiety. 


FOLLOWING  DORA  AND  NELLIE         209 

"I  didn't  say  the  corner  was  struck — it  was  the 
tree,"  explained  the  farmer  soberly. 

"All  right,  much  obliged,"  answered  Tom;  and 
then  the  three  boys  started  up  the  engine  once 
more.  The  villagers  had  crowded  around,  but  as 
those  explosions  rent  the  air  several  leaped  back, 
and  then  the  whole  crowd  ran  for  their  lives. 

"She's  goin'  up!"  one  yelled. 

"Is  the  engine  goin'  to  bust?"  asked  another. 

"Look  out,  Jim,  or  she'll  mow  ye  down  like  a 
mowin'  machine!" 

"Clear  the  track!"  cried  Sam,  and  then,  with 
the  usual  rush  and  roar,  the  Dartaway  leaped  over 
the  village  green  and  arose  in  the  air,  leaving  the 
gaping  and  wondering  crowd  behind. 

It  was  an  easy  run  up  to  the  blasted  tree,  and 
sighting  this,  Dick  headed  the  biplane  along  the 
road  that  led  to  Shepleytown. 

"How  far  is  that  place?"  asked  Sam. 

"I  think  it  is  about  six  or  seven  miles,"  an- 
swered Tom.  "I  was  there  once,  on  a  bicycle — 
went  after  nuts  with  Stanley  and  Songbird." 

"What,  to  the  town?"  questioned  Sam,  with  a 
grin. 

"No,  the  woods  back  of  the  town,  Sam.  Say, 
that's  one  on  me, — as  bad  as  that  countryman's 
struck-by-lightning  corner,"  and  Tom  grinned, 
too. 


210  THE  RO7ER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

On  and  on  swept  the  flying  machine,  the  boys 
watching  every  rod  of  the  winding  road  below. 
Once  Tom  gave  a  cry,  as  they  saw  a  turnout  at  a 
distance.  But  it  proved  to  be  nothing  but  a  tin- 
ware peddler's  wagon.  On  the  ground  lay  various 
pieces  of  tinware,  scattering  over  a  distance  of 
fifty  feet. 

"Look  at  that!"  cried  Sam.  "He  must  have 
had  an  accident." 

"Say,  maybe  that  auto  struck  his  wagon,"  ex- 
claimed Tom. 

"It  looks  that  way,"  was  Dick's  comment. 

"Shall  we  land  and  question  him?" 

"What's  the  use  ?  We  know  the  machine  came 
this  way.  That's  enough  for  the  present.  We 
don't  want  to  lose  a  minute  more  than  is  neces- 
sary. " 

"Say,  we  were  chumps  that  we  didn't  telephone 
ahead  from  Beech  wood !"  cried  Sam.  "We  might 
have  had  that  auto  stopped  when  it  went  through 
Shepleytown." 

"It  couldn't  be  done,  for  there  is  no  line  from 
Beechwood  to  Shepleytown,"  answered  Dick. 
"The  line  only  runs  the  other  way." 

The  route  was  now  over  a  dense  woods  and  the 
boys  had  to  sail  slowly,  for  fear  of  passing  the 
automobile  while  the  latter  was  running  under  the 
overhanging  trees.  Once  they  saw  something  that 


FOLLOWING  DORA  AND  NELLIE          2II 

looked  like  an  automobile  and  Dick  had  to  sal)  in 
a  circle  and  come  back,  to  make  sure.  But  it 
proved  to  be  only  a  two-seated  carriage ;  and  they 
passed  on. 

Shepleytown  proved  to  be  quite  a  place,  with  a 
main  street  containing  a  dozen  stores.  It  con- 
nected by  stage  with  Chaplet,  which  was  a  rail- 
road center,  five  miles  away. 

The  coming  of  the  boys  created  as  much  of  a 
sensation  as  had  their  arrival  at  Beechwood,  and 
once  more  the  biplane  was  surrounded. 

"Sure,  I  saw  that  'mobile  you  are  after,"  said 
one  man,  in  answer  to  their  questions.  "It  was 
running  putty  lively  an'  no  mistake.  It  went  past 
the  mill  an'  took  the  old  Snagtown  road.  Queer, 
too,  'cause  that  road  ain't  half  as  good  as  the 
Chaplet  turnpike." 

"Did  you  see  who  was  in  the  auto?"  queried 
Dick. 

"I  think  a  couple  o'  men  an'  some  girls.  I 
couldn't  see  very  well,  the  machine  run  so  fast. 
I  had  to  hold  my  hoss,  for  I  was  afraid  they'd  run 
into  me." 

Several  others  had  also  seen  the  big  enclosed 
touring  car  and  all  were  sure  it  had  taken  to  the 
old  Snagtown  road. 

"Where  does  that  road  run  to?"  asked  Dick. 

"Goes  over  the  hills  to  what  used  to  be  Snag- 


212  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

town,"  answered  one  of  the  men.  "But  there 
ain't  no  town  now,  since  the  mills  closed  down — 
only  empty  houses." 

"Just  the  place  they'd  be  likely  to  head  for!" 
cried  Tom,  in  a  low  voice  to  his  brothers.  "Come, 
on,  hurry  up!" 

Sam  and  Dick  needed  no  urging,  and  having 
thanked  the  men  for  their  information  they  started 
up  the  engine  once  more. 

"How  far  is  it  to  that  deserted  village."  called 
out  Tom,  as  the  Dartaway  was  about  to  move 
off." 

"Six  miles !"  shouted  one  of  the  crowd.  "That 
is,  by  the  road.  The  way  you're  going  it  ain't 
more'n  four!"  And  this  answer  made  the  crowd 
laugh. 

"Four  miles,"  murmured  Dick.  "We  ought  to 
be  able  to  head  them  off." 

"I  wish  we  were  armed,"  came  from  Tom. 
"We  may  have  some  desperate  characters  to  deal 
with." 

"We  might  go  back  and  get  pistols,"  suggested 
Sam. 

Dick  thought  for  a  moment.  He  knew  well 
how  desperate  their  enemies  might  become.  He 
hated  to  lose  the  time  but  he  realized  it  would  be 
worse  than  useless  to  face  a  gang  of  four  or  more 
empty-handed.  There  was  no  telling  what  Sob- 


FOLLOWING  DORA  AND  NELLIE 


213 


ber,  Crabtree  and  the  others  might  do  if  cornered. 

"I  guess  we'd  better  go  back  and  arm  our- 
selves," he  said.  "It  will  create  talk,  but  that 
~an't  be  helped." 

"It  will  create  talk  anyway,  as  soon  as  it  is 
known  that  Dora  and  Nellie  have  been  carried 
off,"  answered  Torn. 

"What  do  you  care  for  the  talk!"  cried  Sam. 
"What  we  want  to  do  is  to  save  the  girls — and 
put  those  rascals  where  they  belong,  in  jail!" 

Then  the  biplane  was  turned  back  in  a  circle 
and  soon  the  boys  were  back  in  Shepleytown, 
much  to  the  astonishment  of  those  who  had  but  a 
few  moments  before  seen  them  leave. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

OVER  THE  BIG  WOODS 

"Is  THERE  a  hardware  store  handy?"  asked 
Dick,  of  the  first  man  who  came  up.  He  had  told 
his  brothers  to  let  him  do  the  talking. 

"Sure — Bill  Simmons's  place,  just  down  the 
street,"  answered  the  man,  pointing  with  his 
finger. 

"Thank  you.  Tom,  bring  that  five-gallon  gaso- 
line can  with  you.  Sam,  you  mind  the  machine," 
went  on  Dick,  loudly. 

"All  right,"  answered  the  brothers,  and  Tom 
got  the  can  in  question,  and  he  and  Dick  started 
for  the  store. 

"Humph!  got  to  have  gasoline  to  run  'em,  eh?" 
said  one  of  the  men,  to  Sam. 

"Yes,  indeed,"  answered  the  youngest  Rover. 

"Well,  Bill  Simmons  can  give  ye  all  ye  want., 
pervidin'  ye  pay  for  it,"  chuckled  the  man.  "He 
keeps  gasoline  fer  auto  fellers  an'  fer  farmers  as 
has  gasoline  engines." 

214 


OVER  THE  BIG  WOODS  21$ 

Dick  and  Tom  hurried  to  the  hardware  store 
and  asked  the  proprietor  about  gasoline.  While  he 
was  filling  the  can  they  looked  at  an  assortment  of 
( pistols  that  were  exhibited  in  a  showcase. 

"They  look  pretty  good,"  said  Dick,  when  the 
hardware  man  came  towards  them. 

"Are  good,  too.  Wouldn't  you  like  to  buy  a 
good  shooter?"  he  added,  anxious  to  do  business. 

"Show  me  a  really  good  five-shooter,"  said 
Dick,  and  several  were  quickly  handed  over.  He 
selected  one  and  Tom  selected  another. 

"Have  to  get  one  for  Sam,  too,"  whispered 
Tom. 

"Sure,"  replied  his  brother,  and  this  was  done, 
and  they  also  purchased  the  necessary  cartridges. 

"Now  you  are  well  armed — if  anybody  tries  to 
steal  your  airship,"  said  Bill  Simmons. 

"We  don't  want  the  machine  stolen,  or  tam- 
pered with,"  answered  Dick.  "We  can't  afford 
to  take  chances.  If  a  fellow  tampered  with  our 
machine  it  might  go  wrong  when  it  was  in  the  air 
and  we'd  get  our  necks  broken."  And  then  Dick 
and  Tom  hurried  back  to  the  Dartazvay  carrying 
the  can  of  gasoline  between  them.  The  can  was 
fastened  where  it  belonged, — for  the  regular  tank 
had  still  plenty  of  gasoline  in  it, — and  then  the 
boys  sailed  away  once  more,  over  the  winding 
road  leading  to  Snagtown. 


2l6  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"That's  a  dandy  revolver!"  exclaimed  Sam,  on 
receiving  one  of  the  weapons,  with  some  cart- 
ridges. "And  loaded,  too!  Now  I  guess  we  are 
ready  for  those  rascals!"  he  added,  with  satisfac- 
tion. 

"Remember,  we  are  not  to  use  any  firearms  un- 
less it  becomes  absolutely  necessary,"  said  Dick, 
firmly. 

"Yes,  but  I  am  not  going  to  give  them  a  chance 
to  down  me  and  get  away  with  Nellie!"  cried 
Tom,  stoutly. 

"Oh,  no,  Tom!  We'll  not  allow  that!"  re- 
turned his  big  brother,  with  equal  firmness. 

"It  seems  to  be  getting  a  bit  cloudy,"  said  Sam, 
a  minute  later.  "Wonder  if  it  will  rain?" 

"I  don't  think  that  is  rain,  Sam,"  answered 
Dick.    "It's  worse  than  that,  for  us." 
"You  mean  wind?" 
"Yes." 

Dick  was  right,  and  presently  the  first  puff  of 
the  coming  breeze  hit  the  Dartaway  and  sent  the 
aircraft  up  on  a  slant.  Dick  promptly  moved  the 
tips  and  one  of  the  rudders,  and  the  flying  ma- 
chine came  along  on  a  level.  But  from  then  on 
the  oldest  Rover  boy  had  all  he  could  do  to  keep 
to  the  course,  for  the  breeze  became  stronger  and 
stronger. 
"It's  too  bad!"  murmured  Tom,  as  he  clung  to 


OVER  THE  BIG  WOODS 


217 


his  seat.  "Hang  the  luck!  Why  couldn't  that 
wind  have  kept  off  for  an  hour  longer!" 

"You  fellows  keep  your  eyes  on  the  road!" 
sang  out  Dick.  "I've  got  to  give  all  my  attention 
to  the  biplane!" 

"All  right,"  was  the  answer  of  the  others. 

After  that  but  little  was  said,  for  Dick  had  to 
watch  every  movement  of  the  Dartaway  with 
care,  and  his  hands  and  feet  were  constantly  on 
the  alert,  to  make  whatever  shift  seemed  neces* 
sary.  Sam  and  Tom  strained  their  eyes  to  catch 
sight  of  the  enclosed  touring  car,  which,  they  had 
learned,  was  painted  a  dark  blue. 

The  wind  kept  growing  stronger  and  stronger, 
coming  in  fitful  gusts  that  were  particularly  bad 
for  such  a  flying  machine  as  the  boys  possessed. 
Once  came  a  gust  that  sent  them  spinning  far  out 
of  their  course. 

"Phew!  this  is  getting  pretty  wild!"  gasped 
Sam.  "Dick,  can  you  manage  her?" 

"Not  if  it  gets  any  worse,"  was  the  grim  an- 
swer. 

"Don't  take  too  much  of  a  chance,"  put  in  Torn. 
»"We  don't  want  to  get  wrecked  in  this  wilder- 
ness. " 

His  reference  to  a  wilderness  was  not  without 
reason,  for  below  them  stretched  a  series  of  hiHs 


2i8  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

and  valleys  covered  with  stunted  trees  and  clumps 
of  brushwood.  Not  a  house  was  in  sight. 

"This  is  what  you'd  call  Lonesomehurst,"  mur- 
mured Sam. 

"Do  you  see  any  place  where  we  can  land?" 
was  Dick's  question,  a  little  later,  after  he  had 
battled  with  another  angry  gust  and  then  run 
through  a  particularly  trying  "soft  spot." 

"Nothing  around  here,"  answered  Tom. 

"I  see  something  of  a  clearing  over  to  the  left," 
came  from  Sam.  "I  don't  know  what  it  amounts 
to  though,  it's  too  far  off." 

"We'll  look  at  it,"  said  Dick,  in  a  low  voice. 

He  had  to  fairly  battle  his  way  along,  so  fiev-ce 
were  the  gusts  of  wind.  He  made  something  of 
an  oval,  and  presently  found  himself  over  a  spot 
covered  with  grass  and  low  bushes.  Then  came 
another  gust  of  wind  and  without  waiting  longer 
he  shut  off  the  engine,  and  the  Dartaway  came 
down  with  a  bump  that  threatened  to  break  the 
wheels  on  which  it  rested.  They  swept  through 
the  bushes,  and  then  tilted  up  beside  several  small 
trees. 

"Hold  her  down!"  shouted  Dick.  "Tie  her  fast- 
before  the  wind  turns  her  over!" 

All  set  to  work,  and,  not  without  great  diffi- 
culty, they  managed  to  run  the  biplane  directly 
between  several  trees  and  some  clumps  of  bushes. 


'OVER  THE  BIG  WOODS  219 

"Fasten  every  rope  well,"  sang  out  Dick.  "Un- 
K«5S  I  miss  my  guess,  this  is  going  to  be  a  corker 
of  a  blow!" 

"I  don't  think  it  will  be  as  bad  as  it  was  during 
that  hailstorm,"  answered  Tom.  "But  it  is  bad 
enough.  " 

The  ropes  were  all  well  secured,  and  then  the 
boys  breathed  easier.  Down  on  the  ground  the 
wind  did  not  appear  to  be  so  powerful,  and  they 
felt  that,  unless  it  increased  greatly,  the  Darto 
way  would  be  safe  in  her  berth  among  the  trees 
and  bushes. 

"Well,  what's  the  next  move?"  questioned  Sam, 
after  they  had  rested  for  a  moment  from  their 
labors. 

"I  hardly  know  what  to  say,"  answered  his 
eldest  brother.  "We  can  hardly  follow  that  auto 
on  foot." 

"The  worst  of  it  is,  it  will  be  growing  dark 
before  long,"  put  in  Tom.  "What  are  we  going 
to  do  then  ?  I  thought  we'd  catch  up  to  that  auto 
long  before  this." 

They  talked  the  matter  over,  but  could  arrive 
at  no  satisfactory  conclusion. 

"I'm  almost  sorry  we  came  down,"  said  Dick. 
"We  might  have  gotten  through — although  the 
wind  is  worse  than  it  was." 

"No,  we  couldn't  do  anything  in  this  wind, — • 


220  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

we'd  simply  wreck  the  Dartaivay"  said  Sam. 
"But  come  on,  let's  go  as  far  as  we  can.  We  can 
come  back  for  the  biplane  any  time." 
,  While  under  such  a  strain  of  mind,  the  boys 
.'could  not  remain  quiet,  and  so  they  set  off  through 
the  woods  in  the  direction  of  the  road.  It  was 
hard  walking,  and  several  times  they  had  to  liter- 
ally force  their  way  through  the  brushwood.  Then 
they  came  to  a  swamp  and  had  to  make  a  detour, 
for  fear  of  getting  stuck  in  the  mud.  When  they 
at  last  reached  the  road  they  were  well-nigh  ex- 
hausted. 

"I'll  have  to  rest  just  a  minute!"  panted  Sam. 
"Say,  that  was  something  fierce,  wasn't  it?"  And 
he  sank  on  a  rock. 

"Listen!  I  think  I  hear  somebody  coming!" 
cried  Dick. 

All  strained  their  ears,  and  presently  made  out 
the  sounds  of  a  farm  wagon  moving  slowly  over 
the  rocky  roadway  that  was  hidden  by  the  trees. 
Then  the  turnout  came  into  view,  loaded  with 
freshly-cut  cord  wood,  and  drawn  by  a  pair  of 
bony,  white  horses.  On  the  seat  of  the  wagon 
sat  an  aged  colored  man,  talking  volubly  to  his 
team. 

"Hello  there,  uncle!"  cried  Dick,  as  the  wagofi 
came  closer.  "Stop  a  minute,  I  want  to  talk  ta 
you." 


OVER  THE  BIG  WOODS  221 

"What  you-all  wants?"  demanded  the  colored 
man  nervously,  for  the  spot  was  a  particularly 
lonely  one. 

"Did  you  come  from  the  direction  of  Snag- 
town?"  went  on  Dick. 

"Dat's  wot  I  did,  sah." 

"Did  you  see  anything  of  a  big  automobile  go- 
ing that  way,  one  with  a  coach  top?" 

At  this  question  the  aged  colored  man  blinked 
his  eyes  and  shifted  uneasily.  He  glanced  back, 
over  his  load  of  wood. 

"I — I  ain't  got  nuffin  to  say,  boss,  I  ain't  got 
nuffin  to  say!"  he  answered  finally,  and  prepared 
to  drive  on. 

"Oh,  yes,  you  have  got  something  to  say — and 
you  are  going  to  say  it!"  cried  Dick,  and  he  ran 
forward,  in  front  of  the  horses,  and  caught  hold 
of  one  by  the  bit. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

AT  CLOSE  QUARTERS 

"SAY,  you  dun  let  my  bosses  alone !"  cri«»d  the 
colored  man,  in  fright. 

"Don't  you  dare  to  drive  away  until  you  have 
answered  our  questions,"  returned  Dick,  firmly. 

"I — I  don't  want  to  git  in  no  trouble,  boss — 
'deed  I  don't!"  wailed  the  driver  of  the  farm 
wagon. 

"Well,  you  answer  our  questions,  and  tell  us 
the  strict  truth." 

"I — I  didn't  do  nuffin,  give  you-all  my  word  I 
didn't!" 

-    "But  you  saw  the  auto,  with  the  men  and  the 
girls  in  it?"  cried  Dick,  sharply. 

"Ye-as,  sah,  I — I  did,  sah,"  was  the  stammered* 
but  reply. 

"Where  did  you  see  them?" 

"Down  in  Snagtown,  sah." 

"What  were  the  folks  in  the  auto  doing?" 

"Da  was  a-waitin'  fo'  one  of  de  men  to  fix  up 


AT  CLOSE  QUARTERS 

'de  wheel.    De  rubber  on  de  wheel  dun  got  busted." 

"I  see.  And  what  were  the  men  in  the  auto, 
and  the  girls,  doing?"  went  on  Dick,  quickly. 

"Say,  boss,  I  don't  want  no  trouble,  'deed  I 
don't !  I  didn't  do  nuffin !  I  jess  looked  at  'em.1 
dat's  all.  An'  dat  one  man  he  said  he'd  mak  me/ 
suffer  if  I  opened  my  mouf  'bout  wot  I  saw,"  ex-1 
plained  the  aged  colored  man,  in  a  trembling 
voice.  I'se  an  honest,  hard-workin'  man,  I  is !  I 
works  fo'  Massah  Sheldon  fo'  sixteen  years  now, 
an'  he'll  dun  tole  yo'-all  I'se  honest,  an " 

"All  right,  I  believe  you  are  honest,"  answered 
Dick,  in  a  kindlier  tone.  "But  those  men  are 
rascals,  and  we  want  to  catch  them.  They  carried 
those  two  girls  off  against  their  will." 

"Dat's  wot  I  was  suspicioned  of,  boss,  fo' 
de  young  ladies  was  a-cryin'  hard  an'  wanted  to 
git  out,  an'  de  men  wouldn't  let  'em.  I  wanted 
to  do  sumfing  fo'  'em,  but  the  men  tole  me  go 
mind  my  own  business,  or  git  my  haid  busted,  so 
I  drove  on." 

"How  many  men  were  there?" 

"Three  men,  'sides  de  man  wot  was  a-mendin* 
de  busted  wheel."  I 

"The  doctor  and  Crabtree  and  Sobber!"  mui* 
tnured  Tom. 

"Or  Koswell  and  Larkspur,"  added  Sam. 


224  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"How  far  away  from  here  is  that  place?"  went 
on  Dick. 

"About  a  mile  an'  a  half,  sah.  But  the  road 
'am  putty  stony  an'  rough,  sah." 

"Can  a  fellow  ride  horseback  on  those  horses  ?': 

"Yof  might,  sah,  if  yo'  had  a  saddle.  But  da 
ain't  no  saddle.  Is  yo'-all  thinkin'  of  goin' " 

"We'll  take  those  horses,"  cut  in  Dick,  shortly. 
"Now,  don't  worry,  we'll  pay  you  well  for  using 
them,  and  see  that  they  come  back  safely.  We 
have  got  to  save  those  two  girls,  and  we'll  put 
those  men  in  prison  if  we  can." 

The  old  colored  man  was  so  amazed  that  he  was 
all  but  bewildered.  He  did  not  want  to  let  the 
horses  go,  but  the  boys  gave  him  no  choice  in  the 
matter.  They  unharnessed  the  steeds,  and  took  the 
blankets  on  the  wagon  seat  for  saddles. 

"Sam,  I  guess  Tom  and  I  had  better  go  on 
ahead,"  said  Dick.  "You  can  follow  on  foot,  if 
you  want  to,  and  you  can  come,  too,  if  you  wish," 
he  added,  to  the  colored  man. 

"Say,  ain't  you  afraid  ob  gitting  shot,  or  sum- 
ing  like  dat?"  asked  the  driver  of  the  wagon. 

"Maybe  we  can  do  a  little  shooting  ourselves,** 
inswered  Dick,  grimly. 

"Is  yo'-all  armed?" 

"We  are." 

"Den    I'll    follow    on    foot,    wid    dis   young 


AT  CLOSE  QUARTERS  225 

gen'men,"  said  the  colored  man.  He  was  afraid 
that  if  he  did  not  follow  he  would  not  get  the 
team  back. 

Once  on  horseback,  Dick  and  Tom  did  not 
linger.  Along  the  rough,  hill  road  they  sped, 
urging  the  bony  steeds  along  as  best  they  could. 
Fortunately  there  were  no  side  trails  to  bewilder 
them. 

"I  hope  we  get  there  in  time,"  remarked  Tom, 
as  they  proceeded. 

"So  do  I,"  answered  Dick.  "If  they  had  a 
blow-out  it  may  take  that  chauffeur  quite  some 
time  to  put  on  a  new  inner  tube  and  a  shoe." 

"If  he  had  only  busted  his  engine!"  murmured 
Tom. 

The  way  now  became  so  rough  that  they  had  all 
they  could  do  to  keep  on  the  horses,  and  they  won- 
dered at  the  men  in  the  automobile  traveling  such 
a  road. 

"I  suppose  they  came  because  it's  so  lonely," 
said  Dick.  "They  knew  they'd  be  sure  to  meet 
more  or  less  carriages  and  wagons  on  the  turn- 
pike, and  if  the  girls  screamed  they  might  be  res- 
cued." 

At  last  they  topped  a  hill  and  could  see,  on  the 
top  of  the  next  hill,  a  deserted  house,  the  first  of 
the  deserted  village  of  Snagtown.  This  made  them 


226  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

renew  their  efforts,  and  soon  they  were  strug- 
gling up  the  hill  towards  the  house. 

"Hark!"  burst  out  Tom,  suddenly.  "What's 
that?" 

"An  engine!"  exclaimed  his  brother.  "They 
must  have  started  up  their  auto ! " 

"If  thatvs  the  case,  the  wheel  must  be  mended!" 

"Yes!    Come  on,  there  is  no  time  to  lose!" 

Past  the  deserted  house  they  rode,  and  then 
around  a  turn  where  were  located  several  other 
houses  and  barns.  Then  they  came  in  sight  of 
the  deserted  mill,  down  in  a  hollow  by  a  stream. 
Further  still  was  a  bridge  and  not  far  from  this 
structure  stood  a  big,  enclosed  touring  car  painted 
dark  blue! 

"There  it  is !    There's  the  auto !"  cried  Dick. 

"And  they  are  starting  up!"  added  his  brother. 
"Hi!  stop!  Stop,  you  rascals!"  he  yelled. 

The  horses  clattered  through  the  lonely  street 
of  the  deserted  village  and  the  noise  they  made 
and  the  shouting,  made  those  in  the  automobile 
look  back. 

"Two  men  on  horseback !"  cried  one  of  the  men,, 

"The  Rover  boys,  Dick  an-l  Tom!"  exclaimed 
another.  "Hurry  up!" 

"It's  old  Crabtree!"  cried  lick,  as  he  saw  the 
head  of  that  individual  thrust  **».£  of  th«  touring 


JUST  AS  THE   MACHINE   REACHED  THE  OTHER   SIDE,  THE   BRIDGE 

WENT   DOWN   WITH   A  CRASH.—  Page  228. 
Thf  Rntr  Boys  in  the  Air. 


AT  CLOSE  QUARTERS  227 

car.  "And  Tad  Sobber!"  he  added,  as  a  second 
head  appeared. 

"Stop!  stop,  you  rascals!"  continued  Tom. 
"Don't  you  dare  to  go  another  step!" 

"Save  us!  Save  us!"  came  in  girlish  voices 
from  the  interior  of  the  touring  car.  "Oh,  Dick! 
Oh,  Tom!  Save  us!" 

"Hurry  up — start  her  up!"  screamed  Tad 
Sobber  frantically,  to  the  chauffeur.  "Put  on  all 
power!" 

The  driver  was  already  in  his  seat  and  the 
motor  was  humming  loudly.  He  threw  in  the  low 
gear,  and  off  the  touring  car  started  slowly.  After 
it  clattered  Dick  and  Tom,  still  a  hundred  feet  in 
the  rear. 

"Let  me  get  out!"  screamed  Dora.  "Oh,  let 
me  get  out!" 

"Yes!  Yes!"  pleaded  Nellie.  "Please  let  us 
get  out!" 

"Stop  your  noise  and  sit  still!"  commanded 
Josiah  Crabtree.  And  he  and  Sobber  and  the 
third  fellow  forced  the  two  girls  back  on  the  seat. 

Dick  and  Tom  urged  the  horses  forward  with 
ell  speed.  But  before  they  could  reach  the  touring 
car,  the  chauffeur  threw  in  second  speed  and  then 
quickly  changed  to  high,  and  away  the  automo- 
bile rattled,  over  the  rickety  bridge.  The  struc- 
ture had  not  been  built  for  such  a  weight,  and, 


228  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

just  as  the  machine  reached  the  other  side,  the 
bridge  went  down  with  a  crash. 

"Look  out!"  yelled  Dick,  and  the  warning 
came  none  too  soon,  for  both  he  and  Tom  were 
almost  on  the  bridge.  They  turned  their  horses 
just  in  time,  came  to  a  sudden  halt  in  some 
bushes,  and  stared  blankly  at  each  other. 

"Gone!"  cried  Tom,  hollowly.  "Oh,  what 
luck!" 

"Quick,  your  pistol,  Tom!"  cried  Dick,  sud- 
denly. 

"But  the  girls "  began  the  other. 

"Don't  shoot  at  the  car,  shoot  at  the  tires,'* 
explained  Dick.  And  then  he  whipped  out  his 
own  weapon,  got  into  range,  and  began  to  blaze 
away. 

Each  of  the  boys  fired  three  shots.  One  hit  the 
back  lamp  of  the  automobile,  smashing  the  red 
glass,  and  another  hit  the  differential  case  and 
glanced  off.  But  the  wheels  remained  untouched, 
and  in  a  few  seconds  the  big  touring  car  was  out 
of  sight  around  a  bend.  The  lads  heard  a  scream 
from  the  two  girls,  and  then  all  that  reached 
their  strained  ears  was  the  sound  of  the  motor, 
growing  fainter  and  fainter,  until  it  died  out 
altogether. 

Dick  and  Tom  felt  sick  at  heart.  They  had 
been  so  near  to  rescuing  the  girls,  and  now  they 


AT  CLOSE  QUARTERS  229 

seemed  as  far  off  as  ever!  Each  heaved  a  deep 
sigh. 

"I  suppose  we  can't  follow  them,  with  the 
bridge  down,"  said  Tom. 

"We  might  ford  the  stream,"  said  Dick.  "But 
'what  would  be  the  use  of  trying  to  follow  on 
horseback?  They  know  we  are  after  them  and 
they  will  put  on  all  the  speed  possible." 

"Well,  what's  to  do  next,  Dick?" 

"I  don't  know." 

"I'm  not  going  to  sit  still  and  do  nothing." 

"Neither  am  I,  Tom.  But  what  to  do  next  I 
really  don't  know." 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

AT  THE  SWAMP 

"WHERE  are  they?  Didn't  you  catch  up  to 
them?  Who  fired  those  shots?" 

It  was  Sam  who  shouted  the  words,  as  he  came 
up  on  a  run,  followed  by  the  aged  negro. 

"They  got  away,"  answered  Dick,  bitterly. 
"We  were  just  a  minute  too  late!" 

"Can't  you  go  after  them?" 

"Not  on  horseback,  Sam." 

"And,  if  the  horses  were  all  right,  look  there!" 
cried  Tom,  and  pointed  to  the  fallen  bridge. 

"Down!    What  did  it,  the  auto?" 

"Yes." 

"Fo'  de  Ian'  sake!"  burst  out  the  negro  farm 
hand.  "De  bridge  hab  gone  bust  down!  Say,* 
how  is  we-all  to  git  ober  dat  stream  after  dis?"', 

"I  give  it  up,"  said  Tom.  "The  authorities! 
will  have  to  rebuild  it,  I  guess." 

"Nobudy  ain't  gwine  to  do  dat,  boss.     Kasc 
why?    Kase  dis  road  was  built  fo'  de  mill  an'  de 
230 


AT  THE  SWAMP 


231 


people  wot  lived  heah.  Now  de  mill  ain't  run- 
nin'  an*  de  people  moved  away,  da  ain't  much  use 
fo'  the  road,  an'  nobuddy  ain't  gwine  to  put  up 
jde  bridge — an'  Ike  Henry,  dat's  me,  has  got  to 
k.ote  things  'round  by  de  udder  road  after  dis!" 
he  added  ruefully. 

"Well,  we  can't  bother  about  the  bridge,"  re- 
plied Dick.  "The  authorities  can  fight  it  out  with 
those  fellows  who  are  running  the  auto." 

"But  the  shots  ?"  queried  Sam.  He  had  dropped 
on  a  flat  rock  to  rest. 

"We  tried  to  hit  the  tires — but  we  failed," 
explained  Tom.  "The  auto  was  moving  too 
fast,  and  the  trees  and  bushes  were  in  the  way. 
Besides,  we  didn't  want  to  hit  the  girls." 

Dick  and  Tom  walked  down  to  the  stream.  It 
was  not  very  deep  and  they  concluded  that  they 
could  easily  get  to  the  other  side,  by  leaping  from 
one  bit  of  wreckage  to  another, — thus  keeping 
from  getting  wet, — for  at  that  season  of  the  year 
the  water  was  decidedly  cold. 

"Let  us  go  over  and  climb  to  the  top  of  the 
tnext  hill,"  said  Dick.  "We  may  be  able  to  see 
which  direction  the  auto  takes." 

The  others  were  willing,  and  telling  the  colored 
man  to  wait  a  while  for  them,  and  promising  him 
good  pay,  they  climbed  over  the  sunken  bridge  to 
the  other  shore  of  the  stream.  Then  they  raced 


232  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

along  the  rocky  road,  around  a  bend,  and  up  a 
steep  hill  that  all  but  winded  them. 

"I  see  the  machine!"  cried  Tom,  who  was  the 
first  to  top  the  rise.  "Look!"  And  he  pointed 
with  his  hand,  down  in  the  valley  that  lay 
stretched  out  before  them  like  a  map  in  the  gather- 
ing darkness. 

At  a  great  distance,  moving  at  a  fair  rate  of 
speed,  was  the  enclosed  touring  car  containing 
Dora  and  Nellie  and  their  abductors.  It  was 
headed  for  a  distant  main  road,  lined  here  and 
there  with  farmhouses  and  outbuildings.  Pres- 
ently it  turned  into  this  mainroad,  and  started 
westward,  at  an  increased  rate  of  speed 

"My,  see  them  streak  along!"  murmured  Sam. 

"They  are  evidently  going  to  put  as  much  dis- 
tance as  they  can  between  themselves  and  us," 
returned  Tom. 

"Say,  do  you  see  any  telephone  wires?"  asked 
Dick,  anxiously. 

"Not  a  wire,"  came  from  his  brothers,  after  a 
long  look  for  lines  and  poles. 

"Neither  do  I.  I  guess  they  haven't  any  con- 
nections at  those  farmhouses,  so  it  will  be  useless 
to  walk  there." 

"But  what  shall  we  do,  Dick?"  asked  Tom, 
impatiently.  "We  can't  sit  still  and  do  nothing!" 


AT  THE  SWAMP 


233 


"We'll  go  back  to  the  Dartaway  and  fly  after 
them." 

"But  the  wind "  began  Sam. 

"It  has  gone  down  a  little,  I  think,  Sam.  And 
anyway,  we've  got  to  take  a  chance — it's  the 
only  thing  left.  If  you  don't  want  to  go " 

"Dick,  stop  right  there!  If  you  go  I'll  go," 
cried  the  youngest  Rover,  firmly.  "I'm  as  much 
interested  in  this  as  anybody,  even  though  Grace 
isn't  there,"  he  added,  with  a  show  of  color  in 
his  round  cheeks. 

But  little  more  was  said  just  then.  The  three 
boys  ran  down  the  hill  to  the  stream  and  crawled 
back  over  the  wreckage. 

"I  guess  those  horses  can  carry  the  lot  of  us," 
said  Dick ;  and  so  it  was  arranged,  Dick  and  Sam 
getting  on  the  back  of  one  steed  and  Tom  and 
Ike  Henry  on  the  other.  The  boys  asked  the 
colored  man  about  telephone  connections,  but  he 
could  give  them  little  information  excepting  to 
state  that  his  employer  had  no  such  convenience. 

At  last  the  boys  reached  the  spot  where  they 
had  come  out  of  the  woods  after  leaving  the 
'Dartaway  and  skirting  the  swamp. 

"Have  you  a  lantern  on  the  wagon?"  asked 
Dick,  of  Ike  Henry. 

"Yes,  sah." 

"Then  we'll  have  to  buy  or  borrow  it,  my  tn&n. 


234  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

Supposing  I  give  you  two  dollars  for  the  use  of 
the  horses  and  another  dollar  for  the  lantern,  how 
will  that  strike  you?" 

"Dat's  all  right,  boss,"  answered  Ike  Henry, 
who  remembered  that  the  lantern  had  cost  but 
seventy-five  cents. 

Dick  passed  over  the  bills  and  Deceived  the 
lantern,  which  was  rilled  with  oil,  and  also  a  box 
of  matches,  which  Ike  Henry  chanced  to  carry. 

"Wot  you-all  gwine  to  do  now?"  asked  the 
colored  man,  as  he  prepared  to  hitch  up  his  team 
again. 

"We  are  going  back  into  the  woods,  where  we 
left  our  flying  machine,"  answered  Tom. 

"You-all  be  careful  dat  yo'  don't  git  in  de 
swamp.  Dat  am  a  terribul  bad  spot." 

"We'll  be  careful." 

"Tell  me,  where  does  that  mainroad  on  the 
other  side  of  the  river  run  to?"  put  in  Dick. 

"Dat  road?"  queried  Ike  Henry.  "Dat  way 
or  dat  way?"  and  he  motioned  first  to  the  east  and 
then  to  the  west. 

"I  mean  to  the  westward." 

"Why,  dat's  de  way  to  git  to  Sherodburg  an* 
Fremville." 

"Do  you  know  how  far  those  places  are?" 

"Sherodburg  am  'bout  eight  miles;  Fremville 
am  'bout  twenty  or  moah." 


AT  THE  SWAMP  235 

"All  right.  Come,  on,  boys,"  said  Dick. 
"Goodnight,  Ike." 

"Good  night,  sah!  Much  erbliged!"  cried  the 
aged  colored  man.  "Hope  yo'-all  dun  catch  Jem 
rascals,"  he  added  earnestly. 

"We'll  do  our  best,"  answered  Tom. 

In  a  few  seconds  more  the  Rover  boys  had 
plunged  into  the  woods.  Here  it  was  quite  dark, 
and  Dick  took  the  lead,  holding  the  lantern  close 
to  the  ground,  so  that  he  might  follow  the  trail 
he  and  his  brothers  had  made  on  leaving  the  Dart- 
away.  All  were  gratified  to  find  that  the  wind 
had  died  down  completely. 

"I  don't  know  how  a  run  in  the  darkness  will 
go,"  said  Dick.  "But  we  can  try  it.  But  I  don't 
see  how  we  are  to  steer." 

"I've  got  my  pocket  compass  with  me,"  an- 
swered Sam.  "That  may  help  some.  We  know 
those  towns  are  west  of  us.  We  can  sail  along 
until  we  see  the  lights  and  then  go  down  and  ask 
about  the  touring  car." 

"A  good  idea,  Sam." 

Skirting  the  swamp  with  only  the  rays  from 
the  lantern  to  aid  them  was  no  easy  task,  and  once 
Tom  slipped  from  a  clump  of  rushes  and  went 
down  over  his  ankles  in  soft  mud. 

"Hi!  hi!  help  me  out!"  he  yelled.  "Quick,  be- 
fore I  get  in  any  deeper  J" 


236  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Stand  still!"  called  back  Dick,  and  placed  the 
lantern  in  another  clump  of  rushes.  Then  he 
caught  hold  of  a  tree  that  was  handy  and  took 
a  grip  on  Sam's  hand.  "Now  catch  hold  of  Tom," 
(he  went  on,  and  the  youngest  Rover  did  so.  Then 
came  a  long  and  strong  pull,  and  with  a  sucking 
sound,  poor  Tom  came  out  of  the  sticky  mud 
and  landed  beside  his  brothers. 

"Wow!  that's  a  mess!"  said  the  fun-loving 
Rover,  as  he  surveyed  his  feet,  plastered  thick 
with  the  mud. 

"Stick  to  the  dry  ground  after  this,"  advised 
Dick.  "Come  on,  the  dead  leaves  will  soon  brush 
that  mud  off."  And  forward  he  went  once  more, 
holding  the  lantern  as  before.  In  a  little  while 
after  this  the  swamp  was  left  behind,  and  then 
progress  through  the  woods  was  more  agreeable. 

"Dick,  don't  you  think  we  ought  to  be  getting 
to  the  Dartaway  pretty  soon?"  asked  Tom,  after 
a  quarter  of  an  hour  more  had  passed  and  they 
were  still  moving  forward. 

"Yes." 

;  "It  didn't  seem  so  far  away  as  this,"  put  in 
Sam.  "Are  you  sure  you  are  following  the  trail  ?" 
'  "You  can  see  for  yourselves,"  answered  Dick, 
and  held  the  lantern  close  to  the  ground. 

"Footsteps,    sure   enough,"   murmured   Tom. 


AT  THE  SWAMP  237- 

Then  of  a  sudden  he  bent  closer.    "But  look!"  he 
cried.    They  are  not  ours!" 

"What?"  exclaimed  his  two  brothers,  in  sur- 
prise. 

"These  footprints  are  not  ours — they  are  alto* 
gether  too  big.  We  have  picked  up  and  are  fol- 
lowing the  wrong  trail!" 


THE  TRAII,  OF  THE  TOURING  CAR 

started  in  astonishment  at  the  footprints 
before  them.  What  Tom  had  said  was  true — the 
prints  were  altogether  too  large  to  have  been  made 
by  their  own  feet  in  walking  through  the  woods. 

"How  could  I  have  made  such  a  mistake!" 
murmured  Dick. 

"I  wonder  where  you  got  mixed  up?"  said  Sam. 
"I  looked  at  the  prints  down  by  the  swamp.  They 
seemed  to  be  O.  K.  there." 

"Then  that  is  where  I  must  have  gotten  mixed 
up — maybe  after  we  pulled  Tom  from  the  mud." 

"We'll  have  to  go  back,"  came  from  Tom. 
"Too  bad !  But  it  can't  be  helped.  I  don't  blame 
you,  Dick,"  he  added,  hastily. 

"Neither  do  I,"  put  in  Sam.  "Anybody  might 
make  such  a  mistake,  with  nothing  but  that  smok}'1 
lantern  to  guide  him." 

They  turned  back,  and  after  a  while  reached 
the  edge  of  the  swamp.  Here,  after  a  long  search, 

they  found  their  own  footprints. 
238 


THE  TRAIL  OF  THE  TOURING  CAR      23$ 

"Now  we  are  all  right!"  cried  Sam.  "Come 
on!" 

"Yes,  and  let  us  be  careful  that  we  don't  make 
another  mistake,"  added  Tom. 

A 

"I  don't  know  about  this,"  said  Dick,  hesitat-j 
ingly.  "Somehow,  it  doesn't  look  altogether  right 
to  me." 

"Why  not?"  queried  his  two  brothers. 

"It  doesn't  seem  to  be  the  right  direction.  But 
they  are  our  footprints,  so  we  may  as  well  fol- 
low them." 

They  went  on  and  proceeded  for  several  hun- 
dred feet  in  silence.  Then  Tom  uttered  a  cry  of 
dismay. 

"Well,  this  beats  the  Dutch!"  he  gasped 

"What's  wrong  now?"  asked  Dick. 

"Do  you  know  what  we  are  doing?  We  are 
heading  for  the  road  again,  instead  of  for  the 
place  where  we  left  the  Dartawayl" 

"Tom!"  gasped  Sam.    "Are  you  sure?" 

"I  am.  See  that  fallen  tree?  We  are  about 
half  way  between  the  road  and  the  swamp." 

"Yes,  I  remember  the  tree,  and  you  are  right," 
said  Dick.  "This  is  too  bad!  And  when  we  are 
in  such  a  hurry,  too!"  His  voice  had  a  note  of 
despair  in  it. 

"Well,  keep  to  this  trail  now,"  said  Sam, 
"Don't  miss  it, — only  follow  it  backwards." 


240  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

Once  more  the  three  Rover  boys  turned,  and 
now  they  scanned  every  foot  of  the  trail  with  care. 
Again  they  passed  the  swamp  and  there  discov- 
f>ered  how  they  had  made  a  false  turn.  Then  they 
hurried  forward,  under  the  trees  and  through  the 
bushes. 

The  darkness  of  night  had  closed  in  all  around 
them,  and  the  only  light  was  that  of  the  smoky 
lantern,  and  from  the  few  stars  that  shone  down 
through  the  tree  tops.  Everything  was  silent, 
excepting  for  the  occasional  note  of  a  tree  toad, 
or  the  "glunk"  of  a  frog  in  the  swamp. 

"We  ought  to  be  there  by  now,"  said  Sam,  a 
few  minutes  later. 

"There  she  is!"  cried  Dick,  swinging  the  lamp 
tip  over  his  head.  And  in  the  widening  circle  of 
light  the  three  youths  beheld  the  biplane,  resting 
exactly  as  they  had  left  the  craft. 

"Thank  goodness!"  cried  Tom.  "I  was  begin- 
ning to  think  we  had  made  another  mistake." 

They  hung  the  lantern  on  a  tree  limb  and  then 
lit  the  lights  attached  to  the  biplane,  for  they  had 
insisted  that  the  Dartazvay  be  supplied  with  these, 
« — not  for  the  purpose  of  flying  at  night,  but  so 
that  the  machine  could  be  lit  up  in  the  dark  if  it 
rested  in  the  road  or  in  some  other  place  where 
some  person  or  vehicle  might  run  into  it. 

It  was  an  easy  task  to  bring  the  biplane  out 


THE  TRAIL  OF  THE  TOURING  CAR      241 

into  the  opening  in  the  woods,  and  this  done  the 
boys  took  a  general  view  of  the  situation,  so  that 
they  might  get  their  bearings.  Then  all  but  one 
lantern  were  extinguished,  and  the  engine  was 
started  up  and  they  got  aboard  the  craft,  Dick 
taking  the  wheel. 

"Now,  Sam,  it  is  up  to  you  to  give  me  the 
points  of  the  compass,"  said  Dick.  "And,  Tom 
you  keep  your  eyes  open  for  the  lights  of  Sherod- 
burg  and  Fremville." 

Into  the  sky  with  its  twinkling  stars  swept  the 
'Dartaivay,  and  Sam  gave  the  direction  to  be  taken 
by  consulting  the  tiny  pocket  compass  he  carried. 
Of  course  these  directions  were  crude,  but  they 
were  better  than  nothing,  and  soon  Tom  cried 
out  that  he  could  make  out  the  lights  of  a  settle- 
ment in  the  dim  distance. 

"That  must  be  Sherodburg,"  said  Dick. 

"Why  stop  there  ?"  asked  Tom.  "I  don't  think 
the  touring  car  did.  More  than  likely  they  streaked 
through  for  all  they  were  worth.  Why  not  go  on 
straight  to  Fremville?  That  is  a  much  larger 
town,  and  we'll  be  sure  to  find  a  telephone  there, 
or  a  telegraph  office."  f 

"Just  what  I  was  thinking,"  replied  his  big 
brother. 

They  swept  over  Sherodburg  five  minutes  later. 
Hipping  down  so  low  that  they  could  see  every 


242 

house  and  every  store.  They  looked  along  the 
main  street  for  the  touring  car,  but  only  carriages 
and  farm  wagons  were  in  view. 

"I  wish  we  had  a  searchlight,"  said  Dick,  with 
a  sigh.  "If  we  had  one  we  could  easily  keep  that 
highway  in  view  all  the  way  to  Fremville." 

"Well,  we  haven't  one,  so  we'll  have  to  make  out 
without  it,"  answered  Tom.  "Fly  as  low  as 
you  can  and  we'll  try  to  keep  the  highway  in  sight. 
Most  of  the  farmhouses  have  lights  in  'em,  and 
that  will  help  a  little." 

Dick  flew  as  low  as  seemed  advisable,  and  by 
straining  their  eyes  the  boys  managed  to  make 
out  the  winding  road,  lined  on  either  side  with 
farms  and  patches  of  woods.  Occasionally  they 
swept  over  small  collections  of  houses, — hamlets 
located  between  the  town  they  had  left  behind 
and  the  one  they  were  approaching. 

The  breeze  had  died  down  utterly,  so  Dick  had 
little  trouble  in  manipulating  the  biplane.  He 
sent  the  Dartaway  onward  at  a  good  rate  of 
speed,  the  engine  making  a  noise  like  a  battery  of 
gatling  guns.  More  than  likely  many  a  farmer 
and  his  family  were  astonished  at  the  sounds  and 
wondered  what  they  meant.  If  any  saw  the  bi- 
plane the  Rovers  did  not  know  it. 

"I  guess  we  are  coming  up  to  Fremville  now," 
said  Sam,  when  the  distant  lights  of  a  town 


THE  TRAIL  OF  THE  TOURING  CAR      243 

showed  on  the  horizon.  "We'll  have  to  look  for 
some  safe  place  to  land,  and  that  is  not  so  easy 
in  the  darkness." 

Dick  slowed  down  the  motor  as  they  drew 
closer  to  the  town,  which  was  composed  of  several 
streets  of  stores,  half  a  dozen  churches,  some 
schools,  and  a  hundred  or  more  houses.  He  made 
a  circle,  and  then,  seeing  a  level  field  back  of  some 
of  the  houses,  headed  for  it,  and  shut  off  the  en- 
gine. They  landed  without  anybody  seeing  them 
do  it. 

"Tom,  I  think  you  had  better  watch  the  ma- 
chine, while  Sam  and  I  make  some  inquiries," 
said  Dick,  as  he  alighted. 

"Oh,  don't  you  think  I  had  better  go  too?" 
asked  Tom  anxiously. 

"We  can't  leave  the  Dartaway  alone." 

At  that  moment  a  man  came  out  of  the  dark- 
ness, attracted  by  the  voices.  He  was  surprised 
to  see  the  biplane.  He  told  the  lads  that  his  house 
was  close  by  and  wanted  to  know  what  they  were 
doing. 

"We  are  on  the  trail  of  a  big,  enclosed  touring 
car  that  came  this  way,"  answered  Dick.  "Did 
you  see  anything  of  it?" 

"Say,  that  must  be  the  machine  Jim  Hickey 
told  about!"  cried  the  man.  "Jim  said  it  went 


244  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

tearin'  through  like  mad,   about  half  an  hour 
ago." 

"Which  way  was  it  headed?'*  asked  Tom, 
eagerly. 

"I  don't  know — I  didn't  ask.  Jim  could  tell 
you." 

"Where  is  he?" 

"Jim?  Why  he  keeps  the  barber  shop,  down 
on  the  corner  of  Main  Street  and  Lumber  Alley." 

"Do  you  know  if  he  is  at  his  barber  shop  now  ?" 
asked  Dick. 

"He  must  be — he  was  going  there  when  he  saw 
the  auto." 

The  boys  waited  no  longer,  but  asking  the  man 
to  look  after  the  Dartaway  during  their  absence, 
they  hurried  to  the  main  street  of  the  town  and 
then  to  the  barber  shop  in  question.  Jim  Hickey 
was  busy  shaving  a  customer  but  he  was  willing 
to  suspend  operations  long  enough  to  answer  the 
Rover  boys. 

"Did  I  see  the  car?"  he  cried.  "If  I  hadn't 
I'd  be  a  dead  man  this  minit!"  he  cried.  "She 
was  going  some,  she  was!" 

"Which  way  did  the  car  go?"  asked  all  the 
boys. 

"Down  Main  Street  to  the  bridge  and  then 
turned  around  the  church  corner." 


THE  TRAIL  OF  THE  TOURING  CAR      245 

"Where  does  that  road  lead  to?"  asked  Tom. 

"Leads  to  Plankville  and  Bulltown." 

"Yes,  but  they  can't  git  through  on  that  road," 
out  in  the  customer,  wiping  the  lather  from 
(around  his  mouth  so  he  could  talk.  "The  bridge 
5s  shut  off — they're  fixin'  it — went  at  the  work 
this  morning." 

"You  are  sure  about  that?"  queried  Dick, 
eagerly. 

"Sure,  I  saw  'em  takin'  up  the  plankin'  of  the 
bridge.  They  will  have  to  come  back." 

"How  far  is  that  bridge  from  here?" 

"About  three  miles." 

"Is  there  any  other  side  road?"  put  in  Sam. 

"None  that  would  be  good  enough  for  an  auto. 
The  north  road  is  all  sand  an'  mud." 

"Come  on!"  cried  Dick  to  his  brothers.  "I 
think  we've  cornered  them !  Come  on!"  And  he 
rushed  from  the  barber  shop,  and  Sam  and  Tom 
followed,  leaving  the  barber  and  his  customer 
staring  after  them  in  astonishment. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 
THE;  MOONLIT  TRAIL 

ONCE  in  the  street  the  three  Rover  boys  halted 
and  looked  at  each  other.  The  same  thought  was 
in  the  mind  of  each ;  should  they  follow  the  tour- 
ing car  on  foot,  or  go  back  for  the  airship  ? 

"We'll  get  the  Dartaway!"  cried  Dick.  "We 
can  follow  them  so  much  more  quickly  that  way." 

At  top  speed  they  raced  for  the  spot  where  they 
had  left  the  biplane.  They  found  the  strange  man 
on  guard,  smoking  his  pipe. 

"We  saw  the  barber,"  said  Dick,  "and  now  we 
are  going  after  that  touring  car  and  the  fellows 
in  it.  Much  obliged  for  looking  after  the  bi- 
plane,*' and  he  handed  the  man  a  silver  half 
dollar. 

"Thank  you,"  said  the  man.  "Want  to  catch 
'em,  eh?"  ' 

"Yes,  they  are  rascals  who  ought  to  be  in  jail," 
answered  Tom.  And  then,  before  the  man  could 
usk  any  more  questions,  the  boys  started  up  the 
246 


THE  MOONLIT   TRAIL  247 

engine  and  propellers  and  swept  into  the  air  once 
more. 

The  late  moon  had  come  up,  and  this  light, 
-added  to  that  of  the  stars,  made  it  possible  for 
'them  to  keep  the  road  well  in  view.  Over  the 
town  they  swept  and  then  over  the  church  near 
the  bridge.  Then  they  commenced  to  follow  the 
road  leading  to  Plankville  and  Bulltown. 

It  must  be  confessed  that  all  of  the  youths 
were  deeply  excited,  and  Tom  and  Sam  looked  to 
their  pistols,  to  make  certain  that  the  weapons 
were  ready  for  use.  They  felt  that  the  rascals 
who  had  abducted  Dora  and  Nellie  in  such  a 
high-handed  fashion  would  not  give  in  without  a 
struggle. 

As  they  went  on,  Dick  slowed  down  the  engine, 
and  ran  closer  and  closer  to  the  road. 

"There  is  a  sign  and  a  big  plank,  closing  the 
road!"  cried  Tom,  presently.  "And  there  is  the 
bridge,  just  ahead." 

Scarcely  had  he  spoken  when  Dick  shut  off  the 
engine  entirely  and  volplaned  to  the  broad  road- 
way and  only  a  short  distance  from  the  bridge. 
All  looked  around  eagerly.  Not  a  sign  of  a 
touring  car  could  be  seen. 

"Maybe  they  made  a  mistake "  commenced 

Sam,  when  Dick,  who  was  examining  the  ground, 
tittered  a  cry.. 


248  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Here  are  the  tracks  of  the  rubber  tires!"  ex- 
claimed the  eldest  Rover  boy.  "See,  they  pushed 
the  plank  aside  and  steered  right  for  the  bridge!" 

"But  did  they  get  over?"  asked  his  brothers. 

"I  suppose  so.    Wait,  I'll  go  over  and  see." 

Lantern  in  hand,  Dick  crossed  on  the  beams  of 
the  wooden  bridge.  On  the  opposite  side  he  saw 
the  same  tracks  of  the  tires  in  the  dust  and  dirt. 

"Yes,  they  came  over!"  he  shouted. 

"But  the  planking "  came  from  Tom. 

"They  must  have  thrown  it  into  place  to  cross 
and  then  taken  it  up  again,  so  that  they  couldn't 
be  followed, — that  is,  in  a  carriage,  or  an  auto, 
or  on  horseback." 

"Yes,  but  they  can't  stop  a  biplane !"  cried  Sam, 
eagerly.  "And  this  must  have  taken  time  to  do! 
We  must  be  close  behind  them!" 

"Let's  get  right  after  'em!"  put  in  Tom,  and  all 
three  ran  once  more  for  the  Dartaway,  and  soon 
the  quick  explosions  of  the  motor  sounded  on  the 
night  air. 

If  the  boys  had  been  excited  before,  they  were 
more  so  now,  for  they  realized  that  the  touring 
car  at  the  best  could  be  but  a  few  miles  away.j 
Could  they  catch  up  to  it  before  those  running  the 
machine  had  a  chance  to  slip  them  in  the  darkness  ? 

"They  must  have  their  lights  lit,"  said  Dick. 
"They'd  not  dare  run  without  them.  Look  and 


THE  MOONLIT   TRAIL  249 

see  if  you  can't  spot  their  headlights.    Their  tail- 
light  we  smashed  with  a  pistol  shot." 

On  and  on  swept  the  biplane.  As  the  late 
moon  came  up  higher,  the  way  became  brighter, 
until  they  could  distinguish  the  road  below  quite 
plainly.  But  nothing  like  a  touring  car  came  into 
view. 

"They  must  have  had  more  time  than  we 
thought,  or  else  they  ran  mighty  fast,"  remarked 
Dick,  after  several  miles  had  been  covered. 

Presently  they  saw  two  bright  lights  coming 
towards  them,  down  on  the  road.  At  once  Dick 
shut  off  the  power,  and  allowed  the  biplane  to 
come  down  in  the  centre  of  the  highway.  Then 
Tom  waved  the  lantern,  and  at  the  same  time  all 
three  lads  took  hold  of  their  pistols. 

It  was  a  runabout  that  was  coming  up,  an  old 
affair,  carrying  two  men  that  looked  like  farmers. 

"Hello,  what's  this,  a  hold-up?"  cried  one  of 
the  men.  "By  gum!  if  it  ain't  an  airship!"  he 
gasped,  as  his  machine  came  to  a  standstill  in 
front  of  the  Dartaway. 

"We'd  like  some  information,"  said  Dick,  step- 
ping forward  and  holding  up  the  lantern.  "We 
are  looking  for  a  big  enclosed  touring  car  that 
came  this  way.  Did  you  meet  it  on  the  road?" 

"A  tourin'  car?  No,  we  didn't  meet  any  kind 
o*  an  auto." 


THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"None  at  all?" 

"Nary  a  one,"  answered  the  second  man. 

"May  I  ask  how  far  you've  come?"  went  OJ 
Dick. 

*We  came  from  Plankville." 

"How  far  is  that?" 

"About  six  miles." 

"Are  there  any  side  roads  between  here  and 
Plankville?" 

"Plenty  of  'em,  but  none  good  enough  fer  a 
car.  Them  that  ain't  sand  is  mud,  an'  deep  mud, 
too.  This  is  the  only  road  in  these  parts  fit  for 
autoing. " 

"You  are  sure  that  car  didn't  go  through  Plank- 
ville? It  was  a  big  enclosed  car,  painted  dark 
blue." 

"I  was  sittin'  on  the  hotel  stoop  fev  an  hour 
before  we  came  along  an'  there  wasn't  nary  a 
car  went  through." 

"Well,  that  car  was  on  this  road,"  said  Tom. 
"It  must  have  gone  somewhere." 

"I  don't  see  where  it  could  go,"  said  the  second 
man,  and  shook  his  head  slowly.  "All  the  side 
roads  is  terrible  in  these  parts." 

"Well,  we  are  much  obliged  for  the  informa- 
tion," said  Dick.  "Wait,  we'll  soon  have  out 
biplane  out  of  the  wav."  A»4  then  he  and  his 


THE   MOONLIT    TRAIL  251 

brothers  wheeled  it  to  one  side,  so  the  runabout 
could  pass. 

The  men  were  curious  to  see  the  machine  fly 
and  remained  while  the  boys  started  up  the  engine. 

"What  are  you  going  to  do  next?"  whispered 
Sam. 

"We'll  take  a  look  at  the  side  roads,"  replied 
Dick.  "Maybe  the  touring  car  tried  one  of  them 
and  got  stuck.  I  hope  it  did." 

With  a  rush  and  a  roar,  the  Dartaway  sped 
down  the  highway  and  then  arose  in  the  air,  and 
as  it  did  this  the  men  in  the  runabout  gave  a  cheer 
and  clapped  their  hands.  Then  the  Rover  boys 
continued  their  hunt. 

They  kept  close  to  the  main  road  and  did  not 
fly  any  higher  than  was  necessary.  Whenever 
they  reached  a  side  road  Dick  would  make  a  cir- 
cle, coming  back  to  the  highway  and  going  for- 
ward. Thus  they  kept  on  until  they  came  in  sight 
of  Plankville. 

"Hark!"  cried  Sam,  as  a  distant  bell  tolled  out. 
"Ten  o'clock!" 

"Only  ten  o'clock!"  murmured  Tom.  "It 
seems  like  a  week  since  we  left  Brill!"  ! 

"And  we  haven't  had  supper  yet,"  went  on  the 
youngest  Rover. 

"Who  wants  any  supper?"  came  from  Dick. 
"I'm  sure  I  don't" 


252  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Not  a  mouthful,  until  we  rescue  Dora  and 
Nellie,"  answered  Tom. 

"I'd  like  a  drink — I'm  as  dry  as  a  herring,** 
'said  Sam. 

„    "We'll   look   for   water   when  we  go   down 
•again,"  answered  Dick. 

Presently  they  descended  once  more,  and,  as  a 
brook  was  handy,  each  drank  his  fill.  Then  Dick 
turned  back  in  the  direction  from  which  they  had 
come. 

"Now  what?"  demanded  Tom. 

"I'm  going  to  find  out  where  they  went,  Tom. 
They  didn't  come  this  far,  I  am  sure  of  that." 

"Why?" 

"Because  I  can't  find  their  tracks  in  the  road. 
The  tracks  of  the  runabout  are  there  and  that's 
all.  They  didn't  come  this  far.  They  stopped  or 
branched  off  somewhere  between  here  and  that 
bridge  the  road  men  are  repairing." 

"Why  can't  we  search  the  road  for  tracks?" 
asked  Sam. 

"Just  what  I  am  going  to  do.  We  can  go  down 
every  half  mile  or  so  and  look  the  ground  over." 

This  was  done  three  times,  and  twice  they  saw 
no  tracks.  Then  they  located  them  once  more, 
about  half  way  between  the  bridge  and  Plank- 
yille. 

"Perhaps  we  had  better  follow  them  up  on  foot 


THE  MOONLIT   TRAIL  253 

for  awhile,"  suggested  Dick.  "They  aren't  in  the 
roadway  half  a  mile  from  here." 

"Well,  there  are  no  side  roads  nearby,"  returned 
Tom.  "And  no  houses  or  barns,  either,"  he 
added,  searching  the  moonlit  landscape. 

Lantern  in  hand,  Dick  led  the  way,  the  others 
following.  Thus  several  hundred  feet  were  cov- 
ered. Then  all  came  to  a  halt  and  stared  at  each 
other.  The  tracks  of  the  touring  car  led  from  the 
roadway  directly  into  a  big  field,  backed  up  by 
what  looked  to  be  a  dense  woods. 

"We  are  getting  closer!"  cried  Dick.  "Now, 
to  put  the  -Dartaway  in  a  safe  place  and  then  we'll 
follow  them  on  foot!" 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

THE  CHAUFFEUR  OP  THE  TOURING  CAH 

"LET  us  run  the  biplane  down  the  road  a  way 
and  then  into  another  field  and  down  among  the 
trees,"  suggested  Tom.  "No  use  of  leaving  it 
too  near  here — some  of  that  gang  might  come 
and  ruin  it." 

Tom's  advice  was  considered  good,  and  once 
more  the  three  Rover  boys  hurried  to  the  Dart- 
away.  As  there  was  still  no  wind,  it  was  an  easy 
matter  to  roll  the  machine  along  on  its  wheels. 
They  found  a  field  where  the  fence  was  down, 
and  ran  the  biplane  across  this  and  in  among  some 
trees  and  bushes. 

"Are  you  going  to  take  the  lantern?"  asked 
Sam.  "It  seems  to  me  it  won't  be  wise  to  let 
them  see  us,  at  first." 

1    "I'll   take   it   along  unlit,"   answered  his   big 
brother.    "It  may  come  in  handy  later." 

"Let   us    get    some    clubs,"    suggested    Tom. 
"They  may  come  in  handier  than  the  pistols." 
254 


THE  CHAUFFEUR  OF  THE  TOURING  CAR     255 

"Right  you  are !"  cried  Dick.  "We  don't  want 
any  shooting  if  it  can  be  avoided." 

"Evidently  you  think  they  are  close  at  hand," 
remarked  Sam,  while  they  were  cutting  stout 
sticks  from  among  the  brushwood. 

"They  can't  have  gone  so  very  far,  in  that 
dense  woods,"  answered  Tom.  "Why,  the  auto 
couldn't  get  through." 

At  last  the  boys  were  ready  to  continue  the 
search,  and  stick  and  lantern  in  hand,  Dick  led 
the  way,  with  Tom  and  Sam  close  behind.  They 
had  to  bend  close  to  the  ground,  to  make  sure 
that  they  were  following  the  tracks  of  the  touring 
car. 

The  trail  led  among  the  trees  onto  what  was 
evidently  a  road  used  for  hauling  out  timber. 
Following  this  for  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  the 
youths  discovered  a  dark  object,  resting  near  what 
looked  to  be  the  end  of  the  road. 

"It's  the  auto!"  whispered  Dick. 

"Anybody  around?"  questioned  Tom,  in  an 
equally  low  voice. 

"I  don't  know.    Be  careful  and  we'll  see." 

With  extreme  caution  the  boys  walked  closeq 
to  the  touring  car  and  then  all  around  it.  No- 
body was  at  hand,  and  not  a  sound  broke  the 
silence  of  the  night 


THE  ROVER  BOYS  /AT  THE  AIR 

"Deserted !"  whispered  Sam.  "Where  did  they 
go  to,  I  wonder?" 

"Hush!"  returned  Dick.  "They  may  be  close 
enough  to  hear  you." 

With  strained  ears,  the  Rover  boys  listened  for 
some  sound  that  might  indicate  the  presence  in 
that  vicinity  of  those  they  were  after.  But  they 
heard  nothing  but  the  call  of  a  night  bird  and  the 
far-off  hoot  of  an  owl. 

"They  have  gone  on,"  said  Dick,  at  last.  "We'll 
have  to  find  the  trail  and  follow.  Maybe  I'll  have 
to  light  the  lantern." 

"Say,  let  us  fix  the  auto  first — so  they  can't 
use  it,  if  they  come  back!"  exclaimed  Tom. 

"A  good  idea,  Tom,"  answered  his  big  brother. 
And,  as  soon  as  Dick  had  lighted  the  lantern, 
Tom  and  Sam  set  to  work  to  render  the  touring 
car  unuseable  for  the  time  being  by  turning  off 
the  flow  of  gasoline  from  the  tank  and  discon- 
necting the  spark  pings. 

"That  will  keep  'em  guessing  for  a  while,  if 
they  try  to  run  it,"  was  Sam's  comment. 

In  the  meantime  Dick  was  examining  the 
ground,  and  soon  he  found  the  mark  of  many 
footprints  in  the  moss  and  leaves.  They  led  along 
a  well-defined  footpath  running  through  the 
Woods  and  up  something  of  a  hill. 

"They  went  this  way,"  he  said.    "The  fact  is. 


THE  CHAUFFEUR  OF  THE  TOURING  CAR    257 

I  don't  see  how  they  could  go  any  other, — the 
brushwood  is  so  thick." 

"Maybe  there's  a  house  back  there,"  suggested 
Tom. 

"I  shouldn't  be  surprised.  That  path  must  lead 
to  somewhere." 

The  boys  had  just  started  to  move  along  the 
footpath  when  from  out  of  the  darkness  came  an 
unexpected  hail : 

"Hello,  there!    Who  are  you?" 

The  call  came  from  ahead,  and  at  a  turn  of  the 
trail  the  lads  saw,  by  the  dim  rays  of  the  lantern, 
the  form  of  a  man,  wearing  a  fur  coat  and  an 
automobile  cap. 

"The  driver  of  the  car!"  burst  out  Dick. 

"I  say,  who  are  you?"  called  the  man,  coming 
to  a  halt.  Evidently  he  was  coming  back  to  take 
care  of  the  automobile,  or  run  it  away. 

"Hello,  yourself!"  answered  Dick,  boldly. 
"What  are  you  doing  here  this  time  of  night?" 

"Humph!  Is  that  any  of  your  business?" 
growled  the  man.  He  was  evidently  a  rougK 
customer  and  not  pleased  at  being  thus  surprised. 

"I  don't  know;  perhaps,"  answered  Dick,  draw- 
ing closer.  "Don't  let  him  get  away,"  he  whis-i 
pered  to  his  brothers. 

The  boys  made  a  rush  forward,  raising  theic 


258  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

sticks  as  they  did  so,  and  before  the  man  could 
think  of  retreating  they  had  him  surrounded. 

"Say,  look  here,  what  does  this  mean?"  de- 
manded the  fellow,  trying  to  put  on  a  bold  front, 
although  he  was  much  disturbed. 

"You'll  find  out  what  it  means  before  we  are 
done  with  you,"  cried  Tom,  hotly.  "More  than 
likely  it  means  state's  prison  for  you." 

"State's  prison!"  The  man  shrank  back. 
"Why — er — I  haven't  done  anything  wrong." 

"Oh,  of  course  not!"  returned  Dick,  sarcas- 
tically. "Abducting  two  young  ladies  isn't  wrong 
I  suppose!" 

"I  didn't  abduct  anybody,"  growled  the  man. 
"Somebody  hired  my  car,  that's  all  I  know.  Now 
the  job  is  done,  and  I'm  going  about  my  business." 

"Not  just  yet,"  said  Dick,  quietly  but  firmly. 
"Tell  me,  what  have  they  done  with  the  two 
young  ladies?" 

"That  ain't  my  business,"  commenced  the 

chauffeur,  savagely.  "You  let  me  go,  or  I'll 

Oh!" 

He  stopped  short  and  let  out  a  yell  of  pain  and 
fright.  He  had  tried  to  push  Dick  out  of  his 
path.  The  oldest  Rover  boy  had  dropped  the  lan- 
tern and  struck  out  fairly  and  squarely  with  his 
fist,  and  the  blow  had  landed  on  the  man's  jaw, 
nearly  taking  him  from  his  feet 


THE  CHAUFFEUR  OF  THE  TOURING  CAR     259 

"Now  behave  yourself  and  come  along!"  cried 
Dick,  and  caught  the  man  by  the  arm.  "Don't 
let  him  escape!"  he  cried,  to  his  brothers.  "Use 
your  sticks,  and  your  pistols,  too,  if  it  is  neces- 
sary." 

1  The  boys  closed  in,  and  the  sight  of  the  sticks 
and  the  pistols  frightened  the  chauffeur  greatly. 
He  saw  that  he  was  trapped,  and  that  resistance 
might  put  him  in  a  worse  hole. 

"I  didn't  do  it!"  he  whined,  as  the  boys  hur- 
ried him  back  towards  the  automobile.  "I  was 
hired  for  a  certain  job,  that's  all.  The  men  said 
they  had  a  right  to  carry  the  young  ladies  off — 
that  one  of  'em  was  the  old  man's  stepdaughter, 
and  that  both  of  'em  had  run  away  from  a  girls' 
school  and  wouldn't  learn  their  lessons." 

"And  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  you  believe 
such  stuff!"  snorted  Tom. 

"Well,  that's  what  they  told  me,"  answered  the 
man  doggedly.  "They  hired  the  car  first  without 
telling  me  what  sort  of  a  job  it  was.  Then  they 
told  me  they  wouldn't  give  me  a  cent  if  I  didn't 
do  what  I  was  told  to  do.  I'm  a  poor  man, 
and " 

"You  tell  it  well,  but  I  don't  believe  a  word  of 
it,"  interrupted  Dick.  "You  have  committed  a 
serious  crime,  and  the  only  way  in  which  you  can 
help  yourself  at  all  is  by  helping  us." 


260  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Will  you  let  me  go  if  I  help  you?"  demanded 
the  chanffeur,  eagerly. 

"We!  1  see  about  that  later,"  answered  Dick, 
briefly.  "For  the  present  we  intend  to  keep  you 
a  prisoi,h\" 

"A  p/ison^r!    You  haven't  any  right " 

"We'J  take  the  right." 

"That's  the  talk!"  put  in  Tom. 

By  this  time  the  party  had  reached  the  auto- 
mobile. As  Dick  had  surmised,  several  straps  and 
ropes  lay  in  the  box  under  the  back  seat,  and  with 
these  they  bound  the  man's  hands  behind  him. 
Once  he  started  to  resist,  but  when  Tom  raised 
his  shini'Ag  pistol  he  wilted. 

"Now  you  tell  me  where  they  took  the  young 
ladies,"  said  Dick,  after  the  fellow  had  been 
strapped  fast  to  his  own  automobile. 

"They  took  'em  up  to  the  house." 

"What  house?" 

"The  old  mansion  back  there  on  the  hill." 

"Who  was  in  the  crowd?" 

"The  old  man  and  the  old  lady,  and  the  two 
young  ladies,  and  the  three  young  men,  and  the 
doctor." 

"The  old  lady!"  cried  Dick.  "Who  was  she? 
,What  was  her  name?" 

"I  think  they  called  her  Sobber,  same  as  one 


THE  CHAUFFEUR  OF  THE  TOURING  CAR     261 

of  the  young  fellows.  They  had  her  along  to  look 
after  the  girls." 

"It  must  be  the  one  from  Boston!"  cried  Sam. 
"Tad's  aunt,  or  whatever  she  is." 

"Where  did  they  pick  her  up?"  asked  Dick. 

"Down  at  Fremville.  She  was  waiting  with 
one  of  the  young  men,  a  chap  they  called  Kos- 
well." 

"Are  they  all  up  at  that  old  mansion  now?" 

"I  suppose  so.    They  were  there  when  I  left." 

"Who  lives  at  the  place?" 

"I  don't  know, — I  didn't  see  anybody." 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

AT  THE  OLD  MANSION 

AFTER  that  the  chauffeur  became  more  com- 
municative, and  in  a  few  words  told  how  he  had 
been  engaged  by  Koswell  and  Larkspur  to  do  a 
certain  job  that  they  said  might  take  the  best  part 
of  the  afternoon  and  night.  They  had  told  him 
that  a  certain  college  professor  at  Brill  had  a  way- 
ward stepdaughter  and  that  the  daughter  and  her 
school  chum  had  grossly  insulted  a  lady  teacher 
and  were  in  danger  of  being  arrested.  The  old 
professor  wanted  to  get  the  two  girls  away  and 
place  them  under  the  care  of  an  old  lady,  a  dis- 
tant relative,  who  would  know  how  to  manage 
them.  He  had  been  promised  fifty  dollars  if  he 
would  do  the  work  and  say  nothing  about  it  to 
anybody,  he  being  informed  that  the  old  professor 
wanted  to  avoid  all  publicity  and  also  wished  to 
shield  his  stepdaughter. 

"They  told  me  first  there  were  three  girls," 
Went  on  the  man.  "And  so  there  were,  but  ons 
262 


AT  THE  OLD  MANSION  263 

got  away  somehow,  so  then  we  took  only  the  two." 

"But  you  heard  what  the  girls  said,  didn't 
you?"  asked  Dick,  sharply. 

"I  was  paying  attention  to  running  my  car," 
.mumbled  the  chauffeur. 

"How  about  when  I  and  my  brother  came  after 
you  on  horseback  ?  Why  didn't  you  stop  and  find 
out  what  we  wanted?" 

"The  young  fellow,  Sobber,  said  you  were  from 
the  school  where  the  young  ladies  attended  and 
that  maybe  you  wanted  to  arrest  them.  They 
made  me  go  on." 

"That  sounds  pretty  fishy  to  me,"  returned 
Dick.  "Still,  I  won't  condemn  you  until  this 
whole  thing  is  cleared  up.  Just  now  we've  got 
to  find  those  young  ladies." 

"Going  to  leave  me  tied  up?"  cried  the  chauf- 
feur. 

"Yes,  until  we  get  back." 

"That  aint  fair  nohow!" 

"Well,  fair  or  not,  that's  the  way  it  is  going  to 
be,"  put  in  Tom.  "My  own  opinion  is,  you  are 
^almost  as  guilty  as  anybody.  You  didn't  plan 
this  thing,  but  you  were  perfectly  willing  to  do 
your  share  in  carrying  it  out." 

The  chauffeur  begged  and  pleaded,  but  the  three 
boys  would  not  listen  to  him.  All  were  eager  to 
go  on,  to  ascertain  what  had  become  of  Dora 


264  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

and  Nellie.  They  felt  that  the  girls  must  be  suf- 
fering intensely  even  though  Mrs.  Sobber  was 
with  them. 

"No  use  of  taking  the  lantern,  we  can  easily 
find  the  way,"  said  Dick.  "I'd  rather  have  the 
stick  handy,  and  my  pistol." 

Leaving  the  chauffeur  grumbling  roundly,  the 
three  Rover  boys  hurried  along  the  woodland 
trail.  It  made  half  a  dozen  turns,  the  last  around 
a  spring  of  pure  cold  water,  which  the  tired-out 
lads  could  not  resist.  Each  got  a  good  drink  and 
felt  much  refreshed.  All  were  too  excited  to  notice 
their  hunger,  even  though  they  had  not  tasted  a 
mouthful  of  food  since  the  noon  lunch. 

"I  see  the  house!"  whispered  Sam,  presently, 
and  pointed  ahead,  and  his  brothers  nodded. 

Set  in  a  cleared  space  was  an  old  stone  man- 
sion, two  stories  high,  and  with  several  wings. 
The  porch  was  badly  rotted,  the  chimney  top 
gone,  and  the  whole  structure  showed  signs  of 
decay.  Around  the  place  was  what  had  once  been 
a  well-kept  flower  garden,  now  overrun  with  a 
tangle  of  dead  flowers  stalks  and  untrimmed  rose 
bushes.  Evidently  no  one  had  done  any  work 
around  the  place  for  several  years. 

"Just  the  kind  of  a  place  those  chaps  would 
pick  out,"  whispered  Dick  to  his  brothers.  "They 
never  suspected  anybody  would  trace  'em.  I  sup- 


AT  THE  OLD  MANSION1  265 

pose  they  found  out  the  old  mansion  was  not 
being  used,  and  they  either  hired  it  or  took  pos- 
sesion  without  asking." 

"I  begin  to  think  this  was  all  a  well-laid  plot," 
said  Sam. 

•  "Sure  thing,"  muttered  Tom.  "The  only  trip- 
up  they  made  was  when  they  didn't  catch  Grace 
as  well  as  Nellie  and  Dora." 

"And  when  old  Crabtree  dropped  that  visiting 
card,"  added  Dick. 

The  boys  saw  that  lights  were  burning  in  one 
of  the  lower  rooms  of  the  old  mansion  and  in 
two  of  the  upper  rooms. 

"I  guess  they  are  all  there,"  said  Dick. 

"Can't  we  get  closer  and  make  sure?"  pleaded 
Tom. 

"We  don't  want  them  to  see  us,  Tom." 

"Why  not?" 

"Because  it  might  spoil  everything.  Remem- 
ber they  are  four  or  five  strong,  not  counting  the 
woman,  and  she  would  probably  fight  as  hard  as 
anybody,  if  cornered." 

"Five?"  queried  Sam. 

"Yes,  counting  that  fellow  the  girls  took  for  a 
doctor." 

"Oh,  yes,  I'd  forgotten  him.  The  machine  cer- 
tainly had  a  load  coming  to  the  place." 

"If  the  girls  are  there — and  safe  for  the  time 


266  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

being — I  know  what  I'd  like  to  do,"  went  on  the 
big  brother,  after  a  pause. 

"What?" 

"Go  to  the  nearest  town  and  notify  the  author- 
ities, and  make  that  whole  crowd  prisoners." 

"That  would  be  fine!"  cried  Tom.  "But  can 
we  do  it?  They  might  try  to  slip  away." 

"That  is  true,  although  I  doubt  it.  I  think 
their  plan  is,  now  they  are  here,  to  lay  low. 
They'll  think  they  are  perfectly  safe  here.  Most 
likely  they'll  send  some  kind  of  a  letter  to  dad, 
and  to  Mrs  Stanhope  and  Mrs.  Laning,  asking  for 
money,  and  then  they'll  wait  for  answers.  They'll 
want  us  to  pay  a  big  sum  for  the  release  of  Dora 
and  Nellie."  ' 

"If  only  we  could  capture  them  ourselves!* 
murmured  Tom,  his  eyes  glistening.  "Don't  you 
think  we  can  do  it,  with  the  sticks  and  pistols?" 

"We  might,  Tom, — but  it  would  be  a  big  risk. 
Those  fellows  are  desperate,  Sobber  especially, 
and  they  must  be  armed,  too.  There  is  no  use  of 
our  getting  shot  if  it  can  be  avoided." 

With  extreme  caution  the  three  boys  walked 
around  the  old  mansion.  In  one  of  the  upper 
rooms,  the  curtains  of  which  had  been  drawn, 
they  could  make  out  several  forms  moving  about. 

"There,  I  think  that  was  Nellie!"  cried  Tom, 
as  a  shadow  appeared  on  the  curtain. 


AT  THE  OLD  MANSION  267 

"And  there  is  that  woman!"  added  Sam,  as 
another  form  appeared  and  vanished. 

"I'd  like  to  know  if  Dora  is  there,"  murmured 
Dick. 

They  waited  for  a  minute  and  saw  several 
shadows  pass  and  repass  the  curtain.  They  were 
sure  Nellie  was  there  but  were  not  so  certain 
about  her  cousin.  The  woman  was  Mrs.  Sobber 
beyond  a  doubt. 

"If  they  leave  the  girls  in  that  room  and  alone 
— with  that  window  unlocked "  began  Dick. 

"The  woman  may  stay  with  them,"  interrupted 
Tom. 

"Get  back — somebody  is  coming!"  whispered 
Sam,  and  dragged  his  brothers  down,  behind 
some  rose  bushes. 

Two  persons  were  coming  out  of  the  old  man- 
sion. One  carried  a  lantern  and  what  looked  to 
be  some  bed  slats  and  the  other  a  ladder.  They 
were  Tad  Sobber  and  Jerry  Koswell. 

"Do  you  think  the  ladder  is  long  enough?" 
they  heard  Koswell  ask. 

"I  guess  so — I'll  soon  see,"  answered  Tad  Sob- 
ber. 

The  pair  walked  around  to  the  side  of  the  house 
and  the  ladder  was  placed  in  position  under  the 
window  of  the  room  the  boys  had  been  watching: 
Then  Sobber  went  up  with  the  slats,  and  some 


268  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

nails  and  a  hammer,  and  commenced  to  nail  the 
slats  across  the  window. 

"He's  going  to  make  a  regular  prison  cell  of 
the  room !"  whispered  Tom.  "Oh,  if  only  I  dared 
to  run  in  and  yank  that  ladder  from  under  him!" 
he  added,  with  grim  humor. 

"Hush,  or  they'll  hear  you,"  warned  Dick.  "I 
am  glad  to  see  this,"  he  went  on,  in  a  low  whisper. 
'"It  shows  that  they  think  they  haven't  been  fol- 
lowed and  are  safe.  Now  to  get  to  the  nearest 
town,  notify  the  authorities,  and  bag  the  bunch 
-of  them!" 

"If  we  could  only  get  some  word  to  the  girls," 
murmured  Tom. 

"Yes,  Tom,  that  would  be  very  nice.  But  we 
can't  afford  to  take  the  chance.  If  some  of  those 
rascals  get  away,  sooner  or  later  they'll  make 
more  trouble  for  us." 

"I  know  that." 

"I  think  one  of  us  might  remain  here  on  guard, 
tfvhile  the  others  go  to  town  for  help." 

"How  are  you  going  to  get  to  town?" 

"I've  got  a  plan  for  that,"  and  Dick  smiled 
faintly.  "I'll  make  our  friend,  the  chauffeur,  do 
us  a  good  turn." 

"What,  will  you  go  in  that  touring  car?"  cried 
Sam. 

"Why  not?    It's  a  big,  roomy  car,  and  can 


AT  THE  OLD  MANSION  269 

carry  a  lot  of  officers  of  the  law.  And  we  know 
it  can  make  speed." 

"All  right,  Dick,  go  ahead.  I  guess  you  know 
the  right  thing  to  do." 

After  a  few  words,  it  was  decided  that  Tom 
should  remain  on  guard  while  Dick  and  Sam  went 
for  assistance.  Dick  cautioned  Tom  not  to  show 
himself. 

"If  you  do,  you  may  spoil  everything,"  said  he. 

"All  right,  I'll  lay  low,"  answered  Tom,  "that 
is,  unless  I  find  out  that  the  girls  actually  need 
me,"  he  added.  "I  won't  stand  it  if  that  old 
woman,  or  Crabtree,  illtreats  them." 

"No,  if  they  try  that,  sail  in  and  do  what  you 
can  to  save  them,"  said  Dick. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

THE  ARM   OF  THE  LAW 

SOON  Dick  and  Sam  were  on  the  way  to  where 
they  had  left  the  chauffeur  and  the  big  touring 
car.  They  fairly  ran  down  the  woodland  trail, 
stumbling  over  the  rocks  and  tree  roots  in  the 
darkness.  Once  Sam  went  down,  and  scratched 
his  hand,  but  he  got  up  without  complaining. 

They  were  almost  in  sight  of  the  machine  when 
they  heard  a  peculiar  sound.  Dick's  heart  gave 
a  bound. 

"Listen!"  he  cried.  "He's  trying  to  crank  up! 
He  must  have  gotten  free  of  his  bonds!" 

The  oldest  Rover  boy  was  right,  the  chauffeur 
had  worked  at  the  straps  and  ropes  until  he  had 
liberated  himself.  Now  he  was  working  at  the 
crank  of  the  touring  car,  hoping  to  get  away  in 
the  machine. 

"He  won't  get  started,"  muttered  Sam,  re- 
membering what  he  and  Tom  had  done  to  the 
automobile. 

They  sneaked  up  behind  the  man,  and  before 
270 


ARM  OF  'ItiE  LAW  271 

ae  could  resist  had  thrown  him  flat  on  his  back. 
Then,  while  Dick  held  him  down,  Sam  ran  and 
got  the  straps  and  ropes. 

"You  let  me  go!"  yelled  the  man.  "Let  me 
go,  or  it  will  be  the  worse  for  you!"  And  he 
tried  to  get  away.  But  then  Dick  put  a  pistol  to 
his  head  and  he  collapsed  and  offered  no  more 
resistance. 

As  soon  as  the  chauffeur  was  again  secured, 
the  boys  bundled  him  into  the  enclosed  portion  of 
the  car  and  tied  him  fast  to  the  foot  rail  and  the 
robe  rail.  Then  the  youths  lost  no  time  in  re- 
adjusting the  machine  so  it  could  be  used,  and 
lighting  all  the  front  lamps. 

"If  they  hear  us  they'll  think  it  is  the  chauf- 
feur going  away,"  said  Dick. 

"Can  you  run  her,  Dick?"  asked  his  brother. 

"I  think  so.  It  seems  to  be  a  good  deal  like 
our  car  at  home,  only  larger." 

It  was  agreed  that  Sam  should  get  into  the 
coach  part  and  watch  the  prisoner  while  Dick  ran 
the  car.  Then  Dick  started  up  the  machine, 
backed  out  and  turned  around,  and  then  made  his 
•way  out  of  the  woods  and  across  the  field  to  the 
highway.  At  first  he  ran  cautiously,  but  as  soon 
as  he  became  accustomed  to  the  car  he  turned  on 
the  speed  and  spun  along  at  the  rate  of  thirty 
miles  an  hour  in  the  direction  of  Plankville. 


272  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"How  is  she  going?"  asked  Sam,  from  behind. 

"Fine!    How  is  that  prisoner?" 

"As  mad  as  a  hornet,"  and  there  was  a  chuckle 
»n  Sam's  tone. 

It  was  not  long  before  they  came  in  sight  of 
;Plankville,  and  Dick  slowed  down  a  little.  He 
ran  directly  up  to  the  hotel,  where  several  men 
were  on  the  point  of  separating  for  the  night. 

"I  want  to  get  some  officers  of  the  law,"  he 
cried.  "Where  can  I  find  them?" 

"Well,  you've  got  one  of  'em  right  here,"  an- 
swered one  of  the  men,  stepping  forward.  "What 
do  you  want?" 

"Who  are  you?" 

"I  am  Jackson  Fells,  and  I  happen  to  be  sheriff 
of  this  county." 

"The  sheriff!"  burst  out  Dick.  "Just  the  man 
I'd  like  to  meet.  Sheriff,  I've  got  a  prisoner  for 
you,  and  I  want  you  to  raise  a  posse  as  quickly 
as  you  can  and  round  up  five  or  six  other  per- 
sons." 

"Eh,  what?  A  prisoner?"  cried  the  sheriff. 
"Where  is  he?" 

"Tied  up  good  and  tight  inside  the  car.  Tell 
me  where  to  take  him,  will  you?" 

"Hum !  Well,  I  guess  you  better  take  him  over 
to  my  office  first  and  we'll  look  into  this,"  said  the 


THE  ARM  OF  THE  LAW  273 

sheriff.  "It's  right  around  the  corner.  I  was 
just  going  home." 

The  county  official  got  into  the  car  and  the 
other  men  followed  on  foot,  anxious  to  see  what 
was  going  on.  In  less  than  a  minute  they  reached 
the  sheriff's  office  and  several  lamps  were  lit  and 
the  chauffeur  was  brought  in. 

It  took  quite  some  time  for  Dick  and  Sam  to 
make  themselves  clear  and  get  Sheriff  Fells  to 
move.  The  driver  of  the  big  touring  car  was 
questioned,  and  then  placed  in  charge  of  the 
keeper  of  the  lock-up. 

"Maybe  you'll  get  off  easy,  if  you  turn  state's 
evidence,"  said  one  of  the  men  present.  "You'd 
better  do  it,  too,  for  this  is  a  serious  case." 

"I'm  willing  to  tell  all  I  know,"  growled  the 
prisoner.  "I  was  led  into  this  before  I  knew 
what  was  going  on." 

"We're  going  to  use  the  car  to  round  up  the 
others,"  added  Dick. 

"Go  ahead,  I  don't  care.  It  don't  belong  to  me 
anyway — I  hired  it  from  my  boss." 

"Then  we'll  settle  with  your  boss,"  said  Sam. 

One  of  the  men  present  was  a  constable  and 
another  a  special  policeman,  and  both  said  they 
would  go  along  with  the  sheriff  and  the  boys. 
The  posse  went  well  armed,  for  Dick  had  warned 


274  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

them  that  some  of  the  rascals  to  be  rounded 
up  were  desperate  characters. 

"We  don't  want  any  of  them  to  get  away," 
said  the  oldest  Rover  boy.  "We  want  to  make 
each  one  a  prisoner." 

"Don't  you  worry,  young  man,  they  won't  get 
away  from  me,"  answered  the  sheriff.  "I  used 
to  be  on  the  New  York  force  before  I  moved  out 
here,  and  I  know  that  class  of  scoundrels.  I 
know  that  old  stone  house,  and  when  we  get  there 
we'll  fix  a  plan  to  bag  every  one  of  'em." 

All  were  soon  in  the  touring  car,  and  once  more 
Dick  put  on  the  speed.  They  ran  so  fast  it  made 
the  constable  chuckle. 

"Gee  whizz!"  he  murmured.  "We're  exceed- 
in'  the  speed  limit,  Sheriff!  Don't  you  think  I'd 
better  hop  out  an*  arrest  the  bunch?" 

"  'Necessity  knows  no  law,'  "  quoted  the  county 
official.  "Just  the  same,  young  man,  don't  you 
land  us  head  up  in  a  ditch!"  he  added,  to  Dick. 

The  boys  were  on  the  watch,  and  presently 
saw  the  field  from  which  they  had  come  and 
steered  into  it.  Then  they  ran  into  the  woods  and 
brought  the  car  to  a  standstill  just  where  it  had 
been  before. 

"Now,  I  think  you  had  better  be  as  quiet  as 
possible,"  said  Dick. 


THE  ARM  OF  THE  LAW  275 

"Right  you  are,"  returned  the  sheriff,  and  gave 
orders  to  his  men  to  that  effect. 

As  silently  as  so  many  ghosts  the  posse  and 
Dick  and  Sam  hurried  along  the  woodland  trail 
in  the  direction  of  the  old  stone  mansion.  Soon 
they  came  in  sight  of  the  place.  As  they  did  so 
Tom  came  to  meet  them. 

"Anything  new?"  questioned  Dick,  in  a 
whisper. 

"The  men  folks  are  in  the  sitting  room  of  the 
place,"  answered  Tom. 

"In  the  sitting  room?  As  late  as  this ?  Would't 
you  think  they'd  retire,"  said  Sam. 

"They  are  quarrelling,"  went  on  Tom,  and  now 
he  was  chuckling. 

"  Quarrelling  ?    Over  what  ? " 

"Over  the  way  they  are  going  to  divide  the 
money  they  squeeze  out  of  dad  and  Mrs.  Stan- 
hope and  Mrs.  Laning.  They've  got  it  all  cut 
and  dried  that  they  are  going  to  get  forty  or 
fifty  thousand  dollars  before  they  send  Nellie  and 
Dora  back  to  school,  and  Crabtree  and  Sobber 
want  the  lion's  share,  while  Koswell  and  Lark- 
spur and  that  other  chap,  the  doctor, — if  he  is 
one — want  just  as  much.  They  are  at  it  hot  and 
heavy. " 

"What  of  the  girls?" 

"They  must  still  be  in  the  upper  room,  and  the 


276  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

woman  is  either  with  them  or  next  door  to  them." 

Tom  was  glad  to  see  the  sheriff  and  his  men, 
and  in  a  very  few  words  the  county  official  out- 
lined his  plan  for  capturing  the  evildoers  in  the 
old  stone  mansion. 

"We'll  let  them  believe  that  I  brought  about 
a  dozen  men  with  me,"  said  Sheriff  Fells.  "That 
will  most  likely  take  the  starch  right  out  of  them. 
Then,  before  they  can  think  of  resisting,  I'll  clap 
the  irons  on  them.  You,  Thompson,  can  stay  out 
in  front,  and  you,  Rapp,  can  walk  around  to  the 
rear.  If  they  run,  plug  them  in  the  legs,"  added 
the  sheriff  grimly.  It  had  been  a  long  time  since 
he  had  had  such  an  important  case  to  deal  with 
and  he  intended  to  make  the  best  showing  possible. 

"We  can  go  in  with  you,  can't  we?"  asked 
Dick. 

"Certainly,  and  don't  hesitate  to  show  your 
guns,  boys.  But  don't  use  them  unless  they  show 
fight  and  try  to  get  away." 

"They  are  not  going  to  get  away!"  cried  Tom, 
sturdily.  "This  is  the  time  we  are  going  to 
round  'em  up,  every  one!" 

A  few  further  directions  were  given  by  the 
sheriff,  and  then  he  and  the  three  Rover  boys 
advanced  to  the  front  door  of  the  old  mansion. 
At  the  same  time,  with  pistol  in  hand,  the  officer 
named  Thompson  remained  where  he  was,  while 


THE  ARM  OF  THE  LAW  277 

be  nsmed  Rapp  walked  around  to  guard  the  rear. 

The  door  was  unlocked,  for  those  inside  had 
not  dreamed  of  being  disturbed.  On  tiptoes  the 
party  entered  the  dark  hallway.  To  keep  out  the 
cold,  the  door  to  the  sitting  room  had  been  closed. 
From  within  the  room  came  a  murmur  of  voices. 

"Well  then,  that's  settled,"  came  from  Tad 
Sobber. 

"I  think  we  ought  to  have  more  money," 
grumbled  Koswell. 

"You  will  be  getting  your  full  share,"  said 
Josiah  Crabtree,  tartly. 

"And  you'll  be  getting  what  is  coming  to  you 
in  another  minute!"  chuckled  Tom. 

Advancing  to  the  door  the  sheriff  paused  for 
a  moment  and  then  threw  it  wide  open,  at  the 
same  time  holding  up  a  brace  of  pistols. 

"Hands  up!"  he  cried  sternly.  "Hands  up,  all 
of  you,  in  the  name  of  the  law!" 


CHAPTER  XXX 

THE   ROUND-UP CONCLUSION 

"WHAT'S  this?" 

"It's  the  Rovers!" 

"Who  is  this  man — an  officer?" 

"We  are  caught!" 

"Let  me  get  out  of  here!" 

These  and  various  other  exclamations  rent  the 
air,  when  those  in  the  sitting  room  of  the  mansion 
beheld  the  sheriff  of  the  county  and  the  three 
Rover  boys  standing  at  the  doorway,  each  armed. 
All  leaped  to  their  feet  and  every  one  present  tried 
to  get  out  of  range  of  the  sheriff's  pistols. 

"The  game  is  up,  gentlemen,"  went  on  Sheriff 
Fells.  "The  best  thing  you  can  do  is  to  submit 
quietly.  I've  got  fifteen  men  outside  to  take  care 
of  you." 

"Caught!"  burst  out  Bart  Larkspur  hoarsely, 
and  sank  on  a  chair  all  but  overcome.  "Oh,  why 
did  I  go  into  this  scheme!" 

"The — there  is — er — some  mistake!"  starn* 
278 


THE  ROUND-UP—CONCLUSION  279 

mered  Josiah  Crabtree,  whose  face  had  gone  the 
color  of  white  chalk. 

"Yes,  a  big  mistake,  Crabtree — and  you  and  the 
others  are  going  to  pay  for  it,"  answered  Dick. 
'  "I'll  not  submit!"  yelled  Tad  Sobber,  and 
sneaking  up  behind  Koswell  he  sent  that  indi- 
vidual flying  into  the  sheriff.  Then  he  leaped 
towards  one  of  the  windows.  At  the  same 
moment  Crabtree  leaped  for  another  window. 

But  the  Rover  boys  were  too  quick  for  them, 
and  while  the  sheriff  continued  to  cover  Koswell 
and  the  so-called  doctor,  and  also  kept  an  eye  on 
Larkspur,  the  lads  leaped  on  their  old  enemies. 
With  a  rapid  swing  of  his  right  hand,  Tom  gave 
Sobber  a  blow  on  the  jaw  that  sent  him  staggering 
against  the  wall.  At  the  same  time  Dick  attacked 
Josiah  Crabtree. 

"That  for  abducting  Dora  Stanhope  and  her 
mother!"  he  exclaimed,  and  his  fist  landed  on 
Crabtree's  nose  with  such  force  that  the  former 
teacher  was  sent  spinning  across  the  room.  He 
let  out  a  yell  of  agony,  and  another  yell  when 
Dick  hit  him  in  the  left  eye. 

"Don't !  don't !  I  beg  of  you  Rover!"  he  whined. 

While  this  was  going  on,  Koswell  tried  to 
dodge  behind  Larkspur  and  go  out  by  a  side  door. 
But  Sam  put  out  his  foot  and  tripped  the  rascal 
up,  and  then  sat  on  him. 


28o  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

The  noise  downstairs  reached  the  ears  of  those 
above,  and  in  a  few  seconds  Mrs.  Sobber  appeared 
at  the  head  of  the  stairs,  with  a  lighted  candle. 

"What  is  going  on  down  there?"  she  asked. 

"Madam,  you  keep  where  you  are!"  shouted 
the  sheriff.  "This  house  is  surrounded  by  officers 
of  the  law.  Don't  you  dare  to  come  down." 

"Oh  dear  me!"  shrieked  the  woman. 

"Sam,  go  up  and  see  if  the  girls  are  safe!" 
cried  Dick.  "We  can  take  care  of  things  down 
here.  Don't  let  that  woman  get  away." 

"I'll  take  care  of  that  woman,  never  fear!** 
answered  the  youngest  Rover. 

The  sheriff  had  brought  along  all  the  hand- 
cuffs necessary,  and  in  a  few  seconds  he  had 
handcuffed  Koswell.  He  threw  a  pair  of  the  steel 
bracelets  to  Dick  and  another  pair  to  Tom,  and 
the  Rovers  had  the  satisfaction  of  handcuffing 
Josiah  Crabtree  and  Tad  Sobber.  Then  the  sheriff 
made  prisoners  of  the  rest  of  the  crowd,  and  called 
in  the  two  men  from  the  outside,  at  the  same 
time  shouting  loudly:  "You  other  fellows  remain 
where  you  are!"  as  if  the  force  of  a  dozen  or 
more  were  still  there. 

"Can  we  go  upstairs  now?"  asked  Dick. 

"Sure  you  can,"  said  the  sheriff,  with  a  little 
grin.  "But  I'll  have  to  go  along — to  get  the  evi- 
dence, you  know." 


THE  ROUND-UP—CONCLUSION  281 

Up  the  stairs  bounded  Dick  and  Tom.  They 
found  Mrs.  Sobber  in  a  corner  of  the  hallway^ 
the  lighted  candle  on  a  dusty  stand.  At  a  nearby- 
door  Sam  was  inserting  a  key  in  the  lock. 

"Just  got  the  key  from  the  woman,"  he  ex- 
plained. "Can  we  come  in?"  he  called  out. 

"Yes!  yes!"  came  eagerly  from  Dora  and 
Nellie. 

The  youngest  Rover  opened  the  door,  and  like 
a  flash  Dick  and  Tom  sped  past  him  and  into  the 
room.  Dora  and  Nellie  rushed  to  meet  them, 
laughing  and  crying  hysterically. 

"Oh,  Dick!  Dick!"  burst  out  poor  Dora,  and 
then  sank  into  his  arms,  too  weak  to  stand. 

"Dora!"  he  murmured.  "Oh,  this  is  awful! 
Well,  it  shall  never  happen  again,  never!"  And 
he  pressed  her  to  him. 

"Oh,  Tom,  how  glad  I  am  that  you  came!"  said 
Nellie  as  she  clung  to  him. 

"They  didn't  hurt  you,  did  they?"  demanded 
Dick. 

"They  carried  us  off — that  was  enough,"  an- 
swered Dora.  "Oh,  Sam,  what  of  Grace?" 

"It  was  Grace  who  told  us,"  answered  the 
youngest  Rover.  "She  got  away  from  them,  you 
know." 

"We  hoped  so,  but  we  weren't  sure.     They 


282  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

wouldn't  tell  us  about  her,"  said  Nellie.  "Are 
you  alone?" 

"No,  indeed;  we  have  the  sheriff  and  his  posse 
with  us.  Every  one  of  the  rascals  is  under  arrest.''' 

"Good!     It  is  what  they  deserve!" 

"Have  you  got  Mr.  Crabtree?"  faltered  Dora. 

"Yes,"  returned  Dick.  "And  this  time  we'll 
take  care  that  he  is  put  where  he  will  never  bother 
you  and  your  mother  again,"  he  continued. 

Although  told  to  do  so  by  Mrs.  Sobber,  the 
girls  had  refused  to  go  to  bed  and  were  fully 
dressed.  They  had  been  offered  supper  by  the 
woman  but  had  found  it  impossible  to  eat. 

"Well,  we  haven't  had  a  mouthful  ourselves," 
said  Sam. 

"But  we  are  going  to  have  the  finest  kind  of 
a  spread  just  as  soon  as  we  get  to  town  and  those 
rascals  are  locked  up,"  added  Tom. 

"But  how  did  you  manage  to  follow  us  so 
quickly?"  asked  Dora,  wonderingly. 

"We  came  to  Hope  to  call  on  you  in  the  Dart- 
away,"  Dick  explained.  "And  we  followed  most 
of  the  way  by  biplane." 

"Then  you  have  the  flying  machine  here?" 

"Yes,  although  we  didn't  bring  it  very  close 
to  the  house. " 

"What  are  you  going  to  do  with  me?"  cried 


THE  ROUND-UP— CONCLUSION  283 

Mrs.  Sobber.  "Oh,  please  do  not  send  me  to 
prison!  Tad  made  me  do  it!" 

"This  case  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  law,'* 
answered  Dick,  coldly.  Then  the  sheriff,  who 
had  said  nothing,  came  forward  and  handcuffed 
the  woman  and  marched  her  downstairs. 

When  the  Rovers  and  the  girls  went  below 
they  found  that  all  of  the  prisoners  had  been 
marched  outside.  The  .sheriff  was  anxious  to 
get  them  to  the  jail  and  the  boys  did  not  blame 
him. 

"I  don't  see  how  that  auto  is  going  to  hold 
all  of  us,"  said  the  county  official.  "Reckon  we'll 
be  kind  of  crowded." 

"Oh,  I'd  hate  to  ride  with  those  bad  men!'* 
murmured  Dora.  "I'd  rather  walk!" 

"So  would  I,"  added  Nellie. 

"It's  too  far  to  walk,"  answered  Dick.  "But 
I'll  tell  you  what  you  might  do,  if  you  are  willing 
to  risk  it.  You  might  sail  to  town  in  the  Dart- 
aivay." 

"Dick  if  you  do  it,  so  will  I,"  cried  Dora. 

"You  won't  be  afraid?"  he  asked,  anxiously. 

"Why  should  I  be?"  she  murmured.  "If  any- 
thing happened  to  you,  why  I — I'd  just  as  soon 
have  it  happen  to  me,  too!" 

"I'll  go,  if  Tom  goes,"  put  in  Nellie.  "I  don't 
want  to  go  anywhere  near  those  horrid  men." 


284  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

"Someone  will  have  to  run  the  touring  car," 
said  Dick. 

"I  can  do  that, — if  you  will  look  after  the 
girls,"  answered  Sam,  promptly;  and  so  it  was 
''finally  arranged.  A  few  minutes  later  the 
•prisoners  were  marched  off  by  the  sheriff  and  his 
men  and  Sam.  Dick  and  Tom,  and  the  two  girls, 
went  ahead,  to  walk  to  where  the  biplane  had  been 
left  among  the  trees. 

The  girls  were  a  little  frightened  at  first,  but 
did  their  best  not  to  show  it.  Dora  sat  as  close 
to  Dick  as  she  could,  and  Tom  held  Nellie  in  a 
seat  in  front  of  him.  Up  into  the  air  rushed  the 
Dartaway  and  both  girls  gave  a  little  gasp.  Dick 
did  not  sail  high,  nor  did  he  put  on  much  speed, 
since  there  was  no  need. 

"I  see  something  in  the  road!"  cried  Tom, 
after  they  had  been  sailing  along  for  several 
minutes.  "It's  the  auto,  with  the  sheriff's  crowd, 
and  the  prisoners!"  And  then  Dick  swept  down 
close  to  the  turnout  and  Sam  gave  three  blasts  on 
the  horn,  to  let  them  know  he  saw  them.  Then 
the  biplane  and  the  touring  car  continued  on  the 
way  to  Plankville. 

News  of  the  intended  arrest  had  been  circulated, 
and  a  crowd  was  in  waiting  at  the  sheriff's  office 
when  they  arrived.  As  it  was  past  midnight,  the 
hearing  was  a  brief  one,  and  soon  the  prisoners 


THE  ROUND-UP—CONCLUSION  285 

were  placed  behind  the  bars,  to  await  the  further 
action  of  the  law.  Then  the  Rovers  and  the 
girls  were  told  they  could  go  where  they  pleased 
so  long  as  they  agreed  to  appear  when  wanted. 

"We'll  appear  all  right  enough!"  cried  Tom. 
"Why,  Mr.  Sheriff,  you  couldn't  beat  us  away 
with  a  club !  We  intend  to  see  to  it  that  every  one 
of  those  rascals  gets  what  is  coming  to  him!" 

"I  reckon  you've  got  a  good  enough  case," 
answered  the  county  official,  grimly. 

The  hotel  keeper  had  been  at  the  hearing  and  he 
readily  offered  to  give  the  girls  a  room  next  to 
that  occupied  by  himsel*  and  his  wife,  and  give 
the  boys  rooms  also.  And  he  likewise  agreed  to 
get  the  party  a  substantial  midnight  supper. 

"But  we  must  send  word  to  the  folks  first," 
said  Dora. 

"Yes,"  answered  Dick.  And  this  was  soon 
done,  although  they  had  to  get  a  telegraph  oper- 
ator out  of  bed  to  do  it.  But  as  the  man  was 
well  paid  for  his  trouble,  he  did  not  mind  this. 

"And  now  to  get  back  to  Hope  and  to  Brill!" 
cried  Tom,  the  following  morning,  when  the  boys 
and  girls  were  dining  again.  "How  shall  we  go?" 

"We've  got  to  get  the  Dartaway  back,"  said 
Sam.  "I  can  do  that,  if  you  folks  want  to  go  by 
train,  trolley  and  stage." 

"It's  a  long-winded  trip  that  way,"  answered 


286  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

Tom.    "We'd  have  to  make  five  changes.    I  asked 
the  sheriff  about  it." 

"Do  you  boys  wants  us  to  go  in  the  biplane?" 

asked  Nellie, 
i 

"Would  you  go?"  asked  Tom,  eagerly. 

"I  will  if  Dora  will." 

"I'll  go  if  Dick  wishes  it,"  said  Dora,  with  a 
fond  glance  at  the  youth  who  was  some  day  to  be 
her  husband. 

So  it  was  settled  that  all  should  travel  in  the 
flying  machine,  and  the  boys  at  once  set  to  work 
to  go  over  the  biplane  carefully.  The  start  was 
made  an  hour  later,  the  sheriff  and  the  hotel 
keeper  and  his  wife  waving  them  a  farewell. 
Sam  ran  the  biplane,  and,  as  was  to  be  expected, 
Dora  sat  close  to  Dick  and  Nellie  close  to  Tom. 
There  was  no  wind,  only  clear  sunshine,  and  after 
a  little  nervousness,  the  girls  began  to  enjoy  the 
trip.  Not  a  stop  was  made,  all  being  too  anxious 
to  get  to  Hope. 

Grace  was  on  the  watch  for  their  return,  and 
as  the  biplane  came  down  she  ran  to  greet  them, 
and  there  was  a  great  jollification,  the  girls  laugh- 
ing and  crying  by  turns.  The  students  and 
teachers  crowded  around,  wanting  to  know  the 
particulars  of  what  had  happened.  A  little  later 
Songbird  and  Stanley  appeared,  having  driven 


I 


THE  ROUND-UP—CONCLUSION  287 

over  from  Brill  to  learn  if  any  word  had  been 
received  from  the  Rovers. 

"Clad  you  caught  those  rascals,"  was  Song- 
bird's comment.  "And  I  hope  they  send  'em  all 
to  prison  for  life!" 

"They'll  be  sure  to  get  pretty  long  terms," 
answered  Sam. 

Everybody  has  his  or  her  story  to  tell,  and 
that  day  there  were  but  few  lessons  both  at  Hope 
and  at  Brill.  The  Rovers  were  the  heroes  of  the 
occasion,  and  everybody  wanted  to  congratulate 
them  on  what  they  had  done. 

"Well,  it  was  a  pretty  strenuous  experience," 
said  Dick  to  his  friends.  He  did  not  realize  that 
still  more  strenuous  happenings  were  in  store  for 
him  and  his  brothers.  What  they  were,  will  be 
told  in  another  volume,  to  be  entitled,  "The  Rover 
Boys  in  New  York;  Or,  Saving  Their  Father's 
Honor." 

All  of  the  girls  had  been  too  upset  by  what  had 
happened  to  go  on  with  their  studies,  and  it  was 
thought  best  to  let  them  go  home  for  awhile  and 
take  it  easy.  The  boys,  too,  went  home,  to  let 
their  folks  know  all  the  details  of  the  happening. 

"You  did  very  well,  boys!"  cried  their  father, 
•when  he  greeted  them.  "Very  well  indeed!  I 
am  proud  of  you!" 

"And  the  best  of  it  is,  all  of  those  rascals  are 


'288  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

now  where  they  can  bother  us  no  longer,"  added 
Randolph  Rover. 

Then  the  boys  wanted  to  know  about  their 
parent's  ht«lth  and  his  business  prospects. 

"I  am  feeling  quite  some  better,"  said  Mr. 
Rover.  "And  I  think  that  before  a  great  while 
all  those  business  complications  will  be  straight- 
ened out." 

"That's  fine,  dad!"  cried  Tom,  and  threw  his 
cap  in  the  air.  "Hurrah!  We  come  out  ahead 
every  time,  don't  we?"  And  then  he  did  a  jig, 
he  felt  so  happy. 

"Let's  go  for  a  sail  in  the  Dartaway!"  came 
from  Sam.  "We'll  call  on  Peter  Marley  and  the 
rest  of  those  folks  and  let  them  know  how  we 
rounded  up  Crabtree,  Sobber  &  Company." 

"That's  the  talk!"  exclaimed  Dick.  "A  sail 
will  just  suit  me!" 

And  then  off  rushed  the  three  Rover  boys  for 
an  outing  in  their  biplane.  And  here  we  will 
leave  them,  wishing  them  all  the  good  times 
possible. 


THE  END 


ZANE  GREY  BOOKS  FOR  BOYS 

Packed  with  all  the  thrill  and  color  and 
action  that  have  made  this  author  famous ! 


THE  "KEN  WARD"  STORIES 

The  Young  Forester 

Kenneth  Ward,  a  young 
eastern  lad  just  out  of  pre- 
paratory school,  goes  west 
on  his  summer  vacation 
to  join  a  friend,  Dick 
Leslie,  a  government 
forest  ranger  in  Arizona. 
Ken,  honest,  loyal  but 
hot-headed  runs  into 
plenty  of  excitement  and 
trouble  when  he  finds  that 
a  big-  lumber  steal  is  go- 
ing on. 

The  Young  Lion  Hunter 

Ken  Ward  and  his  kid 
brother,  Hal,  spend  a 
summer  on  a  forest  pre- 
serve in  Utah  with  Ken's 
pal  Dick  Leslie.  The 
government  rangers  are 
out  after  the  mountain 
lions  and  the  boys  from 
the  east  are  glad  to  share 
in  the  thrilling  work. 


The  Yotmz  Pitcher 

When  Ken  Ward  en- 
tered Wayne  College  to 
pursue  his  study  of  for- 
estry he  discovered  that  as 
a  freshman  he  was  on  the 
bottom  rung  and  had  to 
fight  to  win  his  way  to 
recognition.  His  first 
claim  to  fame  comes  when 
he  pummels  a  prominent 
sophomore  in  self-defense. 

Ken  Ward  in  the  Jangle 


Ken  Ward  and  his 
younger  brother  Hal  take 
a  trip  into  the  wilds  of 
Mexico — Ken  to  try  his 
hand  at  field  work  in  the 
jungle  and  Hal,  who  is 
ambitious  to  become  a 
naturalist,  to  collect  speci- 
mens. The  boys  set  out 
to  solve  the  mysteries  of 
the  Santa  Rosa  River,  an 
unknown  course  of  about 
a  hundred  and  seventy-five 
miles  through  uncharted 
jungle. 


STORIES  OF  BASEBALL 

Zone  Grey's  oasebattis  tit 
real,  as  dramatic  and  at 
thrilling  as  ttte  western 
stories  that  made  him  fa- 
mous. 

The  Redheaded  Outfield 

The  Redheaded  Outfield 
— three  fiery-pated  players 
who  introduce  a  little  box- 
ing and  plenty  of  comedy 
into  the  game  will  delight 
yon.  The  Rube — who  is 
all  that  a  rube  should  be 
— appears  in  a  whole  series 
of  these  stories  and  is  a 
character  you  won't  for- 
get. 

The  Short-Stop 

Chase  Alloway  devel- 
oped a  mean  curve  that 
had  the  small  town  play- 
ers buff  aloed.  They  called 
him  "Chaseaway",  the 
"  Hoodoo"  and  crooked 
eye"  and  one  small  town 
team  was  all  for  having: 
him  tarred  and  feathered  f 
A  story  crowded  with  hard 
and  fast  baseball — and  a 
dash  of  romance  I 


STORIES  OF  THE  GREAT  WEST 


The  Last  of  the  Plainsmen 

"He'd  rope  the  devil 
and  tie  him  down— if  the 
lasso  didn't  burn,"  it  was 
said  of  "  Buffalo  Jones," 
on*  of  the  last  of  the  fa- 
mous plainsmen  who  trod 
the  trails  of  the  old  West. 
Killing  was  repulsive  to 
him  and  the  passion  of  his 
life  was  to  capture  wild 
beasts  alive. 

A  real  hunting  trip — 
with  constant  danger 
threatening  from  wild 
beasts,  Indians  and  the 
hazards  of  wild  country 
untouched  by  civilization* 


Roping  Lions  in  the  Grand 
Canyon 

A  true  story  of  Zane 
Grey's  experiences  captur- 
ing lions  alive,  which 
makes  ordinary  hunting 
with  guns  seem,  in  con- 
trast about  as  exciting-  as 
a  Sunday-school  picnic. 
The  account  of  how  they 
captured  six  of  the  tawny, 
fiery-eyed  demons  which 
infest  the  bottom  of  the 
Grand  Canyon,  and  got 
them  into  camp  alive  and 
growling,  will  enthrall  the 
great  host  of  Zane  Grey's 
boy  readers. 


The  Last  of  the  Great  Scoots 
The  lift  story  of  "Buffalo 
Bill"  by 

HELEN  CODY  WETMORZ 
With  Foreword  and  Con- 
clusion by  Zane  Grey. 

"Buffalo  Bill"— scout, 
pathfinder,  hunter  and  In- 
dian fighter  is  the  most 
famous  of  all  that  great 
company  of  frontiersmen 
who  opened  up  the  West 
for  civilization.  Indeed 
no  character  in  history 
makes  a  stronger  appeal 
to  the  imagination  thaa 
this  daring  hero  of  the 
old  west. 


GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,  Publishers,  NEW  YORK 


SKIPPY  DARE  MYSTERY  STORIES 

By  HUGH  LLOYD 

Author  of  the 
HAL  KEEN  MYSTERY  STORIES 


Skippy  is  a  young  "detective"  who  keeps  his  head  when 
trouble  starts.  He  learns  the  trickery  of  crooked  men  on 
his  father's  river  barge.  His  experience  stands  him  in  good 
stead  when  he  becomes  an  office  boy  in  a  detective  agency 
and  proves  an  invaluable  aide  to  Conne,  the  great  detective 
*  .  .  .  Fearless,  fast  thinking  Skippy  is  a  hero  well  worth 
knowing! 

AMONG  THE  RIVER  PIRATES 

Skippy  and  his  best  pal — his  father — struggle  desperately 
to  escape  the  evil  net  of  the  river  pirates  who  ply  their 
illicit  traffic  on  the  river  that  is  the  only  home  Skippy  has 
ever  known. 

PRISONERS  IN  DEVIL'S  BOG 
Working  in  a  detective  agency,  Skippy  is  sent  on  his  first 
big  "case".    The  story  of  how  he  brings  a  criminal  to  jus- 
tice, escapes  from  a  house  of  horrors  and  wins  the  praise 
of  the  great  Conne,  makes  breathless  reading. 

HELD  FOR  RANSOM 

Kidnapped,  and  in  the  hands  of  a  ruthless  gang  of 
crooks,  Skippy  and  the  son  of  a  millionaire  almost  give  up 
hope.  A  thrilling  story  with  tense  drama  in  every  chapter. 


GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,  PUBLISHERS,  NEW  YORK 


The  AIR  COMBAT  STORIES/or  BOYS 

By  THOMSON  BURTIS 
Author  of 


THE  REX  LEE  STORIES 


Zooming  into  the  war  scene  comes  this  new  hero  of  the 
air,  Lieutenant  Rudford  Riley,  who  leads  The  Phantom  Five, 
a  group  of  airmen  detailed  for  special  duty  in  the  Royal 
Flying  Corps  during  the  early  days  of  the  war  when  every 
take-off  was  an  impudent  challenge  to  death.  The  record 
of  their  mad  exploits  over  the  front  makes  breathless  read- 
ing, and  their  adventures  have  the  ring  of  truth  in  them 
for  the  author-flyer  takes  them  from  his  own  rich  experi- 
ence as  a  war-time  aviator. 

DAREDEVILS  OF  THE  AIR 

Recounts  Lieutenant  Riley's  adventures  as  leader  of  The 
Phantom  Five  against  the  enemy  in  the  air. 

FOUR  ACES 

As  commanding  officer  of  Special  Flight  A,  Rud  Riley 
and  Jerry  Lacey,  the  Manhattan  Madman,  are  thrown  into 
the  thickest  and  hottest  of  the  air  fighting. 

WING  FOR  WING 

Continues  the  record  of  the  daredevil  young  airman's  ad- 
ventures as  one  of  the  leading  aces  in  the  war. 

FLYING  BLACK  BIRDS 

Stormy  Lake  leads  a  squadron  of  picked  daredevils  called 
the  Black  Birds  against  the  famous  German  Red  Devils  led 
by  Von  Baer. 


GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,  PUBLISHERS,  NEW  YORK 


ADVENTURES  in  the  UNKNOWN 

By  CARL  H.  CLAUDY 


Weird!     Mysterious!    Incredible!     Astounding! 

Leap  back  a  million  years  into  the  dark  prehistoric  ages. 
Speed  through  the  dangers  of  outer  space  beyond  the  strato- 
sphere at  a  thousand  miles  a  minute.  Meet  the  grotesque 
machine  men  of  Mars.  Break  into  the  bounds  of  the  Fourth 
Dimension.  You  will  meet  in  these  thrilling,  fascinating 
stories  many  incredible  beings  and  astounding  sights  that 
will  stagger  your  imagination. 

THE  MYSTERY  MEN  OF  MARS 

Seventy  million  miles  from  home !  Three  men — a  daring 
scientist  and  two  adventurous  boys — take  off  from  the  earth 
in  a  steel  and  aluminum  sphere  that  sails  through  space  at 
20  miles  a  second.  On  the  planet  Mars  they  face  destruc- 
tion at  the  hands  of  beings  who  resemble  mechanical  bugs 
more  than  men! 

A  THOUSAND  YEARS  A  MINUTE 

In  the  world  of  a  million  years  ago — whence  they  have 
been  propelled  by  an  old  professor's  invention — Alan  and 
Ted  find  themselves  pitted  against  the  dinosaurs,  mammoths 
and  savage  ape  men  of  a  lost  world. 

THE  LAND  OF  NO  SHADOW 

Through  a  violet  coil  frame  in  Professor  Arronson's 
laboratory  Ted  and  Alan  leap  into  the  gray  and  terrifying 
land  of  the  Fourth  Dimension.  There  they  are  shadowed 
by  the  ghostly  forms  of  menacing,  bodiless  shapes ! 


GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,  PUBLISHERS,  NEW  YORK 


THE    TOM     SWIFT    SERIES 

By  VICTOR  APPLETON 
Author  of  "  The  Don  Sturdy  Series." 

Tom  Swift,  known  to  millions  of  boys  of  this  generation,  is 
a  bright  ingenious  youth  whose  inventions,  discoveries  and 
thrilling  adventures  are  described  in  these  spirited  tales 
that  tell  of  the  wonderful  advances  in  modern  science. 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  MOTOR  CYCLE 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  MOTOR  BOAT 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  AIRSHIP 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  SUBMARINE  BOAT 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  WIRELESS  MESSAGE 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  ELECTRIC  RUNABOUT 

TOM  SWIFT  AMONG  THE  DIAMOND  MAKERS 

TOM  SWIFT  IN  THE  CAVES  OF  ICE 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  SKY  RACER 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  ELECTRIC  RIFLE 

TOM  SWIFT  IN  THE  CITY  OF  GOLD 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  AIR  GLIDER 

TOM  SWIFT  IN  CAPTIVITY 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  WIZARD  CAMERA 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  GREAT  SEARCHLIGHT 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  GIANT  CANNON 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  PHOTO  TELEPHONE 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  AERIAL  WARSHIP 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  BIG  TUNNEL 

TOM  SWIFT  IN  THE  LAND  OF  WONDERS 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  WAR  TANK 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  AIR  SCOUT 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  UNDERSEA  SEARCH 

TOM  SWIFT  AMONG  THE  FIRE  FIGHTERS 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  ELECTRIC  LOCOMOTIVE 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  FYLING  BOAT 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  GREAT  OIL  GUSHER 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  CHEST  OF  SECRETS 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  AIRLINE  EXPRESS 

TOM  SWIFT  CIRCLING  THE  GLOBE 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  TALKING  PICTURES 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  HOUSE  ON  WHEELS 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  BIG  DIRIGIBLE 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  SKY  TRAIN 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  GIANT  MAGNET 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  TELEVISION  DETECTOR 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,      PUBLISHERS,      NEW  YORK 


THE  DON  STURDY  SERIES 

By  VICTOR  APPLETON 
Author  of  "The  Tom  Swift  Series" 

Every  red-blooded  boy  will  enjoy  the  thrilling  adventures 
of  Don  Sturdy.  In  company  with  his  uncles,  one  a  big 
game  hunter,  the  other  a  noted  scientist,  he  travels  far  and 
wide — into  the  jungles  of  South  America,  across  the  Sahara, 
deep  into  the  African  jungle,  up  where  the  Alaskan  volca- 
noes spout,  down  among  the  head  hunters  of  Borneo  and 
many  other  places  where  there  is  danger  and  excitement. 
Every  boy  who  has  known  Tom  Swift  will  at  once  become 
the  boon  companion  of  daring  Don  Sturdy. 

DON  STURDY  ON  THE  DESERT  OF  MYSTERY 
DON  STURDY  WITH  THE  BIG  SNAKE  HUNTERS 
DON  STURDY  IN  THE  TOMBS  OF  GOLD 
DON  STURDY  ACROSS  THE  NORTH  POLE 
DON  STURDY  IN  THE  LAND  OF  VOLCANOES 
DON  STURDY  IN  THE  PORT  OF  LOST  SHIPS 
DON  STURDY  AMONG  THE  GORILLAS 
DON  STURDY  CAPTURED  BY  HEAD  HUNTERS 
DON  STURDY  IN  LION  LAND 
DON  STURDY  IN  THE  LAND  OF  GIANTS 
DON  STURDY  ON  THE  OCEAN  BOTTOM 
DON  STURDY  IN  THE  TEMPLES  OF  FEAR 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,    PUBLISHERS,    NEW  YORK 


Each  Volume  Complete  in  Itself. 


Thrilling  tales  of  the  great  west,  told  primarily  for  boys 
but  which  will  be  read  by  all  who  love  mystery,  rapid 
action,  and  adventures  in  the  great  open  spaces. 

The  Manly  boys,  Roy  and  Teddy,  are  the  sons  of  an  old 
ranchman,  the  owner  of  many  thousands  of  heads  of  cattle. 
The  lads  know  how  to  ride,  how  to  shoot,  and  how  to 
take  care  of  themselves  under  any  and  all  circumstances. 

The  cowboys  of  the  X  Bar  X  Ranch  are  real  cowboys, 
on  the  job  when  required,  but  full  of  fun  and  daring — a 
bunch  any  reader  will  be  delighted  to  know. 

THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  ON  THE  RANCH 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  IN  THUNDER  CANYON 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  ON  WHIRLPOOL  RIVER 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  ON  BIG  BISON  TRAIL 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  AT  THE  ROUND-UP 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  AT  NUGGET  CAMP 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  AT  RUSTLER'S  GAP 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  AT  GRIZZLY  PASS 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  LOST  IN  THE  ROCKIES 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  RIDING  FOR  LIFE 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  IN  SMOKY  VALLEY 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  AT  COPPERHEAD  GULCH 

THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  BRANDING  THE  WILD 
HERD 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,    Publishers,    NEW  YORK 


TED  SCOTT  FLYING  STORIES 

By  FRANKLIN  W.  DIXON 

Illustrated.     Each  Volume  Complete  in  Itself. 

No  subject  has  so  thoroughly  caught  the  imagination  of 
young  America  as  aviation.  This  series  has  been  inspired 
by  recent  daring  feats  of  the  air,  and  is  dedicated  to 
Lindbergh,  Byrcl ,  Chamberlin  and  other  heroes  of  the  skies. 

OVER  THE  OCEAN  TO  PARIS;  Pt  tc  P    L 
cr,  Ted  Scott's  Daring  Long  Distance  Flight. 
JRESCUED  IN  THE  CLOUDS; 
or,  Ted  Scott,  Hero  of  the  Air. 
OVER  THE  ROCKIES  WITH  THE  AIR  MAIL; 
or,  Ted  Scott  Lost  in  the  Wilderness. 
FIRST  STOP  HONOLULU; 
or,  Ted  Scott  Over  the  Pacific. 
THE  SEARCH  FOR  THE  LOST  FLYERS; 
or,  Ted  Scott  Ovtr  the  West  Indies. 
SOUTH  OF  THE  RIO  GRANDE; 
!  or,  Ted  Scott  On  a  Secret  Mission. 
ACROSS  THE  PACIFIC; 
or,  Ted  Scott's  Hop  to  Australia. 
THE  LONE  EAGLE  OF  THE  BORDER; 
or,  Ted  Scott  and  the  Diamond  Smugglers. 
FLYING  AGAINST  TIME; 
or.  Breaking  the  Ocean  to  Ocean  Record. 
OVER  THE  JUNGLE  TRAILS ; 
or,  Ted  Scott  and  the  Missing  Explorers. 
LOST  AT  THE  SOUTH  POLE; 
or,  Ted  Scott  in  Blizzard  Land. 
THROUGH  THE  AIR  TO  ALASKA; 
or,  Ted  Scott's  Search  in  Nugget  Valley. 
FLYING  TO  THE  RESCUE; 
or,  Ted  Scott  and  the  Big  Dirigible. 
DANGER  TRAILS  OF  THE  SKY; 
or,  Ted  Scott's  Great  Mountain  Climb. 
FOLLOWING  THE  SUN  SHADOW; 
or,  Ted  Scott  and  the  Great  Eclipse. 
BATTLING  THE  WIND; 
or,  Ted  Scott  Flying  Around  Cape  Horn. 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP.  PUBLISHERS,  NEW  YORK 


THE  HARDY  BOYS  SERIES 

By  FRANKLIN  W.  DIXON 

Illustrated.     Every  Volume  Complete  in  Itself 

The  Hardy  Boys  are  sons  of  a  celebrated  American 
detective,  and  during  vacations  and  their  off  time  from 
school  they  help  their  father  by  hunting  down  clues  them- 
selves. 

THE  TOWERjTREASURE — A  dying  criminal  confessed  that 
his  loot  had  been  secreted  "  in  the  tower."  It  remained  for  the 
Hardy  Boys  to  clear  up  the  mystery. 

THE  HOUSE  ON  THE  CLIFF— Mr.  Hardy  started  to  invest- 
igate — and  disappeared !  An  odd  tale,  with  plenty  of  excitement. 

THE  SECRET  OF  THE  OLD  MILL— Counterfeit  money  was 
in  circulation,  and  the  limit  was  reached  when  Mrs.  Hardy  took 
some  from  a  stranger.  A  tale  full  of  thrills. 

THE  MISSING  CHUMS— Two  of  the  Hardy  Boys'  chums 
disappear  and  are  almost  rescued  by  their  friends  when  all  are 
captured.  A  thrilling  story  of  adventure. 

HUNTING  FOR  HIDDEN  GOLD— in  tracing  some  stolen 
gold  the  trail  leads  the  boys  to  an  abandoned  mine,  and  there 
things  start  to  happen. 

THE  SHORE  ROAD  MYSTERY— Automobiles  were  disap- 
pearing most  mysteriously  from  the  Shore  Road.  It  remained  for 
the  Hardy  Boys  to  solve  the  mystery. 

THE  SECRET  OF  THE  CAVES— when  the  boys  reached 
the  caves  they  came  unexpectedly  upon  a  queer  old  hermit. 

THE  MYSTERY  OF  CABIN  ISLAND— A  story  of  queer 
adventures  on  a  rockbound  island. 

THE  GREAT  AIRPORT  MYSTERY— The  Hardy  Boys  solve 
the  mystery  of  the  disappearance  of  some  valuable  mail. 

WHAT  HAPPENED  AT  MIDNIGHT— The  boys  follow  a 
trail  that  ends  in  a  strange  and  exciting  situation. 

WHILE  THE  CLOCK  TICKED— The  Hardy  Boys  aidinvin- 

dicating  a  man  who  has  been  wrongly  accused  of  a  crime. 

FOOTPRINTS  UNDER  THE  WINDOW— The  Smuggling 
of  Chinese  into  this  country  is  the  basis  of  this  story  in  which  the 
boys  find  thrills  and  excitement  aplenty. 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,  Publishers,  NEW  YORK 


BOB  CHASE  BIG  GAME  SERIES 

By  FRANK  A.  WARNER 


»  In  these  thrilling  stories  of  outdoor  life  the  hero  is  a 
young  lumberjack  who  is  a  crack  rifle  shot.  While 
tracking  game  in  the  Maine  woods  he  does  some  rich 
hunters  a  great  service.  They  become  interested  in  him 
and  take  him  on  various  hunting  expeditions  in  this 
country  and  abroad.  Bob  learns  what  it  is  to  face  not 
only  wildcats,  foxes  and  deer  but  also  bull  moose, 
Rocky  Mountain  grizzly  bears  and  many  other  species 
of  big  game. 

BOB  CHASE  WITH  THE  BIG  MOOSE  HUNTERS 
BOB  CHASE  AFTER  GRIZZLY  BEARS 
BOB  CHASE  IN  THE  TIGER'S  LAIR 
BOB  CHASE  WITH  THE  LION  HUNTERS 


GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,    PUBLISHERS,   NEW  YORK 


University  of  California 


r '       . ;  ,    •  *• 


APR  2  8 1997 


A     000133409 


